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Elevated CO 2 and nitrogen supply alter leaf longevity of grassland species
Author(s) -
Craine Joseph M.,
Reich Peter B.
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.1469-8137.2001.00116.x
Subject(s) - longevity , biology , grassland , cycling , monoculture , nitrogen , ecosystem , human fertilization , agronomy , botany , ecology , chemistry , genetics , archaeology , organic chemistry , history
Summary• The longevity of green leaf area for 10 grassland species was measured to establish whether elevated CO 2 and N fertilization alter leaf longevity, an important determinant of ecosystem leaf area and ecosystem carbon gain.• Plants were selected from monocultures in their second year of growth in a field experiment that directly manipulated atmospheric CO 2 (550 ppm and ambient) and nitrogen fertilization (4 g N m −2 and ambient). Leaves were censused biweekly over a 4‐month period.• Leaf longevity increased under elevated CO 2 (+3.4 d, P = 0.03) and decreased under elevated N (−4.2 d, P = 0.03). Leaf longevity increased under elevated CO 2 for C 3 species only; there was no change in leaf longevity of C 4 species under elevated CO 2 . For both CO 2 and N, changes in leaf longevity were congruent with expectations based on observed changes in N cycling.• In addition to supplies of resources such as CO 2 and N, site fertility and the development of ecoystem feedbacks appear to be important in determining leaf longevity.