Effects of a CO2-enriched atmosphere on the growth and competitive interaction of a C3and a C4grass

✍ Scribed by D. R. Carter; K. M. Peterson

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1983
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 628 KB
• Volume: 58
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0029-8549
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00399215

✦ Synopsis

Persoon, Ca, were grown in mixed and unmixed cultures under 350 and 600 ppm CO2 for 112 days. High CO 2 levels stimulated increases of total dry weight and leaf surface area in Festuca despite unfavorably high temperatures. In Sorghum, delay of leaf senescence and of floral initiation was attributed to high COz concentrations. Growth of unmixed cultures of Sorghum under 600 ppm CO 2 was relatively poor because of an apparent interaction of high CO 2 with self-shading. All instances of culture x CO 2 interactions are offered in supported of the hypothesis that elevated CO2 levels will effect the competitive interaction of C 3 and C 4 species. Peak net assimilation rates of C 3 and C, plants were seasonally separated at 350 ppm CO 2 but coincided at 600 ppm. Based on our observations of Festuca and Sorghum, we project that global CO2 enrichment may alter competitive balance between C3 and Ca plants and subsequently affect seasonal niche separation, species distribution patterns, and net primary production within mixed communities.