Environmental influences on CO sub 2 uptake by agaves, CAM plants with high productivities

Journal Article · · Economic Botany; (USA)

OSTI ID:5802938

Nobel, P S ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (USA)

Agaves have long been utilized for their leaf fiber and for beverage production. As first reported in 1968 for Agave americana, they are Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) plants, for which stomatal opening and CO{sub 2} uptake occur primarily at night when the lower temperatures greatly reduce water loss. More recently, the influences of rainfall, temperature, and photosynthetically active radiation on CO{sub 2} uptake by agaves have been determined and incorporated into an Environmental Productivity Index (EPI). Nutrient effects on CO{sub 2} uptake and growth can be quantified by a Nutrient Index, which multiples EPI to account for soil element effects. Because of CAM, agaves can have high productivities in regions of moderate annual rainfall, and because of EPI, such productivity can be predicted, which augurs well for the increased future cultivation of agaves.

• DOE Contract Number: FC03-87ER60615
• OSTI ID: 5802938
• Journal Information: Economic Botany; (USA), Journal Name: Economic Botany; (USA) Vol. 44:4; ISSN 0013-0001; ISSN ECBOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550500* -- Metabolism
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLIMATES
CROPS
GROWTH
NUTRIENTS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
SYNTHESIS
UPTAKE