Effect of carbon cycling in grassland ecosystems on climate warming

Human activity-induced greenhouse effects and the impact of consequent global warming on grassland ecosystems have drawn increasing attention.Carbon cycling of grassland ecosystems is an important component in terrestrial ecosystem,and is an essential contribution to carbon sources in the terrestrial biosphere in future.It is necessary to understand the effect of carbon cycling on climate change for the prediction of terrestrial ecosystems and for relevant policy making.This paper reviews current research on the impact of global warming on net primary productivity,soil respiration,litter fall input and decomposition,and on the carbon pool of grassland ecosystems.The mechanisms and processes of grassland ecosystems in responding to global warming are discussed,existing problems in research on carbon cycling of grassland ecosystems are analyzed and possible further research is proposed.