Open AccessN 2 O emissions from plants are reduced under photosynthetic activity
Author(s) -
Schützenmeister Klaus,
Meurer Katharina H. E.,
Gronwald Marco,
Hartmann Antonia B. D.,
Gansert Dirk,
Jungkunst Hermann F.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plant‐environment interactions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2575-6265
DOI - 10.1002/pei3.10015
Subject(s) - photosynthesis , ecosystem , beech , environmental science , atmosphere (unit) , greenhouse gas , greenhouse , rhizosphere , terrestrial ecosystem , terrestrial plant , agronomy , botany , biology , ecology , physics , meteorology , genetics , bacteria
New plant functions in the exchange of greenhouse gases between ecosystems and atmosphere have recently been discovered. We tested whether photosynthetic activity has an effect on N 2 O emission rates from incubated plant–soil systems. Two laboratory experiments were performed. One to unravel possible effect of photosynthetic activity on the net N 2 O ecosystem exchange for two species (beech and ash saplings). The other to account for possible effects from rhizosphere and aboveground plant parts separately (ash sapling only). Total N 2 O emissions from both plant and plant–soil systems were significantly lower under light than in darkness (31%–65%). The photosynthetic effect only applied to the aboveground plant parts. Underlying processes have now to be unraveled to improve our understanding of ecosystem functioning. This will improve modeling and budgeting of greenhouse gas exchanges between ecosystems and the atmosphere.