Water stress in oak savannas grasslands

The study aims to improve our knowledge of the impact of drought on grassland production and use it to develop practical and accessible tools for farmers to optimize the management of their farms. 
The research on grassland productivity in Mediterranean oak savanna ecosystems aligns with one of the objectives of the RILab Grasslands: to create tailored biomass products using satellite data and ground sensors.
By integrating this information, the goal is to provide recommendations on stocking rates and grazing rotations, which are key to the sustainability of these systems. 

In this context, the impact of water stress on grassland productivity was analyzed in a Mediterranean oak savanna ecosystem. Sustainable management in these areas depends on a quantitative understanding of the interactions between water availability and grassland productivity. Productivity and water stress were modeled in southern Spain (2001-2018) using meteorological and MODIS sensor data. A detailed analysis was conducted on nine farms distributed along a rainfall gradient, with topography, tree density and management variations. 

The results identified spatial and temporal patterns of biomass production, allowing the computation of production curves according to water availability at several spatiotemporal scales (region, farm, and plot levels / monthly and seasonal). 
Currently, we are working with growers cooperatives to transform these metrics into a practical tool that farmers can use in their management practices. 
The tool will provide technical recommendations to maximize grassland productivity and resilience, enabling farm managers to anticipate and adapt to extreme events like droughts.
Additionally, the potential of these products for developing drought index-based agricultural insurance will be explored.