Non-stomatal processes reduce gross primary productivity in temperate forest ecosystems during severe edaphic drought.

Severe drought events are known to cause important reductions of gross primary productivity (GPP) in forest ecosystems. However, it is still unclear whether this reduction originates from stomatal closure (Stomatal Origin Limitation) and/or non-stomatal limitations (Non-SOL). In this study, we investigated the impact of edaphic drought in 2018 onGPPand its origin (SOL, NSOL) using a dataset of 10 European forest ecosystem flux towers. In all stations whereGPPreductions were observed during the drought, these were largely explained by declines in the maximum apparent canopy scale carboxylation rateV(CMAX,APP)(NSOL) when the soil relative extractable water content dropped below around 0.4. Concurrently, we found that the stomatal slope parameter (G(1), related to SOL) of the Medlynet al. unified optimization model linking vegetation conductance andGPPremained relatively constant. These results strengthen the increasing evidence that NSOL should be included in stomatal conductance/photosynthesis models to faithfully simulate bothGPPand water fluxes in forest ecosystems during severe drought. This article is part of the theme issue 'Impacts of the 2018 severe drought and heatwave in Europe: from site to continental scale'.