Research progress on the reproductive allocation of grassland plants

Plant reproductive allocation regulates the balance between vegetative and reproductive growth, thus affecting the rate of population renewal and, ultimately, changing community structure and succession direction. Therefore, studying plant reproductive allocation is crucial for grassland ecosystems’ stability and sustainable development. This study systematically determined relevant research theories and factors influencing plant reproductive allocation in grassland ecosystems through literature statistics. Based on optimal control, life history, and biomass allocation theories, researchers have proposed hypotheses regarding photosynthetic compensation mechanisms, nutrient cycles, time limitations, r/k strategies, and resource availability to explain the mechanisms of regulation of plant reproductive distribution by the plant itself, the natural environment, and human interference. However, the reproductive distribution responses of grassland plants to many factors (plant morphological traits, natural disasters, grazing, mowing, exogenous nutrient addition, etc.) remain controversial, and the processes and driving mechanisms of complex factors (climate change, habitat conditions, inter-plant competition, etc.) and multi-factor collaboration are unclear. Based on this, we suggest that grassland plants’ reproductive distribution strategies and driving mechanisms be analyzed from multiple dimensions to provide a theoretical basis for research on promoting grassland ecosystem renewal and forward succession and improving grassland resource utilization.