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Nitrogen fertilization and developmental stage alter the response of Lolium perenne to elevated CO 2
Author(s) -
Daepp Markus,
Nösberger Josef,
Lüscher Andreas
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00109.x
Subject(s) - lolium perenne , human fertilization , sink (geography) , biology , agronomy , nitrogen , zoology , biomass (ecology) , dry weight , biomass partitioning , botany , chemistry , poaceae , cartography , geography , organic chemistry
Summary• Plant response to elevated atmospheric CO 2 may depend on the carbon sink strength, determined by the availability of resources other than CO 2 , and the developmental stage.• In a 2‐yr field experiment with model swards of Lolium perenne , the effect of CO 2 enrichment (FACE) on yield and allocation of dry mass (DM) and N were examined under three N fertilization treatments during vegetative and reproductive growth.• During vegetative growth, in the highest N treatment, the greatest increase in DM yield occurred at elevated CO 2 ; there was no change in DM allocation. By contrast, at low N, residual biomass, but not yield, increased under CO 2 enrichment, and the tillers were shorter. During reproductive growth, under CO 2 enrichment DM yield increased similarly across all N treatments; there was no change in DM and N partitioning. The mean weight and height of the reproductive tillers increased.• At high N availability, or during reproductive growth, L. perenne swards overcome carbon‐sink limitation and show a strong yield response to elevated CO 2 . Biomass allocation and the height of the plants, in response to elevated CO 2 , clearly depend on N fertilization and developmental stage.