Climatic limitations on grassland photosynthesis over the Tibetan Plateau shifted from temperature to water

Plant photosynthesis plays an essential role in regulating the global carbon cycle. Therefore, it is essential to understand the limitations imposed by climate on plant photosynthesis to comprehend the impacts of climate change on land carbon dynamics. In this study, taking gross primary productivity as a direct representation of photosynthesis, we employed a light use efficiency model (i.e., the revised EC-LUE) and factorial analysis method to quantify the spatiotemporal variation of temperature- and water-limitations on plant photosynthesis over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) grasslands during growing season (May to October) in 1983–2018. Results revealed a clear spatiotemporal pattern of the temperature- and water-limitations: temperature is the primary climatic limiting factor in the eastern TP, while water is the primary climatic limiting factor in the western TP; the water- and temperature-limitations prevail in summer and spring/autumn, respectively. The water- and temperature-limitations intensified and alleviated, respectively, during 1983 through 2018. There also was a widespread shift from temperature-limitation to water-limitation in the TP, particularly in midsummer (August). Our findings demonstrated the shifting relative importance of climatic limitations on plant photosynthesis under changing climate, which is crucial for predicting future terrestrial carbon cycle dynamics. [Display omitted] •The variation of temperature- and water-limitations on plant photosynthesis over the Tibetan Plateau was investigated.•The climatic limitations on plant photosynthesis vary spatially and temporally with the alteration of climate regimes.•The plant photosynthesis has undergone a widespread shift from temperature-limitation to water-limitation.