Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41034409›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Drought, grazing, and nitrogen input influence nutrient supply and soil faunal activity in a semi-arid savannah grassland.

Lawrence Munjonji, Kai Behn, Mokoka Vincent, Kingsley Kwabena Ayisi, Uffe Nielsen, Anja Linstädter

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Lawrence MunjonjiDepartment of Soil Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa. Munjonji@sun.ac.za.
Kai BehnInstitute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Mokoka VincentInstitute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Kingsley Kwabena AyisiRisk and Vulnerability Science Centre, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, South Africa.
Uffe NielsenHawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
Anja LinstädterInstitute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.

Funding

Australian Research Council DP190101968BioTip and GlobalTip FKZ 01LC1821A and 01LC2321AGerman Federal Ministry of Education and Research 01LL1304DSALLnet 01LL1802C
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Dryland grasslands cover approximately 16% of Earth's land surface and support the livelihoods of people worldwide. However, the mechanisms driving their nutrient dynamics under changing environmental conditions remain poorly understood. This study, conducted in a dry savanna ecosystem in South Africa, investigated how grassland management interacted with drought and nitrogen addition in their effects on soil faunal activity and plant-available macro- and micronutrients. Extreme drought did not significantly affect soil invertebrates' feeding activity in the top 8 cm, likely due to consistently dry conditions during the experimental period. In contrast, moderate grazing stimulated soil fauna feeding activity in the topsoil. Both nitrogen addition and grazing increased faunal activity, particularly at 7-8 cm depth. Drought conditions were associated with higher concentrations of manganese, zinc, and sulphur, while ambient rainfall conditions resulted in higher total nitrogen, magnesium, iron, and copper. Nitrogen addition enhanced mineral nitrogen availability and led to a fivefold increase in iron, and manganese, and doubling of copper. These findings suggest that moderate grazing management improves soil health in savanna grasslands, even under challenging climatic conditions.

Indexed as

DroughtsGrasslandHerbivoryInvertebratesNitrogenNutrientsSoilAnimalsEcosystemSouth AfricaNitrogenNutrientsSoilMacronutrientsMicronutrientsNutrient supplySemi-arid grasslandSoil fauna

Identifiers

PMID41034409
PMCPMC12488956

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.