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An improved Solardome system for exposing plants to elevated CO 2 and temperature
Author(s) -
RAFAREL C. R.,
ASHENDEN T. W.,
ROBERTS T. M.
Publication year - 1995
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 - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1995.tb03085.x
Subject(s) - irradiance , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , photosynthetically active radiation , atmosphere (unit) , photosynthesis , meteorology , botany , biology , geology , physics , quantum mechanics
summary Ventilated Solardomes (hemispherical glasshouses) have been used for 20 yr for studying the effects of gaseous pollutants on plants. This paper describes a computer‐operated facility for studying the effects of CO 2 × temperature regimes on plants. The eight chambers were set up for factorial design experiments ‐ with two levels of CO 2 (ambient and ambient + 340 ppmv), two levels of temperature (ambient and 3 °C tracked continuously above ambient) and two replicates of each CO 2 × temperature treatment. Monitoring of environmental conditions within the chambers over a 2 yr period has shown highly effective control of CO 2 and temperature regimes. Even with high‐quality and u.v.‐B transmitting glass, the irradiance in the PAR region Was reduced by 18% within the domes. Variation in temperature across the radii of the domes increased with higher photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Vapour pressure deficits CVPDs) in the ambient temperature domes compared well with outside conditions hut were higher in the elevated temperature domes. The watering regime within the domes affected intermittently the relationship between ‘dome’ and ‘outside’ VPDs. The Solardome facility has been used extensively for studies of the impacts of climate change within the UK Programme on Terrestrial Initiative on Global Environmental Research (TIGER).