What is often used to estimate Aboveground Net Primary Production (ANPP) in herbaceous biomes?

Standing biomass at the end of the growing season is often used to estimate Aboveground Net Primary Production (ANPP) in herbaceous biomes because it provides a direct measure of the amount of organic material produced by plants during that growing season. ANPP refers to the net carbon uptake by plants, which can be quantified by measuring the biomass accumulated after accounting for plant respiration. In herbaceous biomes, where grasses and other non-woody plants dominate, measuring the standing biomass allows researchers to assess the productivity of the ecosystem effectively.

This empirical approach is simple and practical, as it requires assessing the dry weight of plant material after the growing season, reflecting the total growth that has occurred. Other methods, such as measuring leaf area index or soil moisture content, can provide additional insights into plant health and ecosystem functioning but do not directly quantify the primary productivity as standing biomass does. Similarly, species diversity might relate to ecosystem stability and resilience but does not equate to the measurement of biomass production necessary for calculating ANPP.