Effects of carbon dioxide enrichment and soil water on maize

Journal Article · · Agron. J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6897033

King, K M; Greer, D H

The current global rise in atmospheric CO/sub 2/ concentration may lead to changes in yield and water use of crops. This study was done to determine the effects of increased CO/sub 2/ in combination with soil water levels on the growth, yield, transpiration, and water use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.). Corn plants (cv. PX74) were grown in Opiki humic silty clay loam (fine, illitic, mesic Histic Humaquepts) soil in 22-L pots from emergence to maturity (111 days) in controlled-environment rooms at CO/sub 2/ concentrations of 350/360, 600/650, and 850/900 ..mu..L L/sup -1/ (day/night). Within each room, at a given CO/sub 2/ concentration, the plants were subjected to one of three soil water treatments: complete replacement of weekly transpiration (control) and 75 and 50% replacement of the control transpiration. The 350 ..mu..L L/sup -1/ treated plants produced an average of 401 g dry matter across all water treatments and the 600 and 850 ..mu..L L/sup -1/ treated plants produced an average of 431 and 436 g dry matter per plant, respectively. The differences in total dry matter between the 600 and 850 ..mu..L L/sup -1/ treated plants remained nonsignificant throughout the experiment. There were significant differences between all soil water treatments in dry matter production with the low soil water level averaging 284 g and the medium and high water level averaging 440 and 544 g plant/sup -1/, respectively. Transpiration was reduced with increased CO/sub 2/ concentration and was 80.5 and 70.4% at 600 and 850 ..mu..L L/sup -1/, respectively, of that at 350 ..mu..L L/sup -1/ averaged across water treatments. The water use efficiency (WUE) increased markedly with increased CO/sub 2/ concentration. At 600 and 850 ..mu..L L/sup -1/ the WUE was 34 and 55% greater, respectively, than at 350 ..mu..L L/sup -1/. Further work is needed on the applicability of this controlled environment experiment to the real world.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Guelph, Ontario
• OSTI ID: 6897033
• Journal Information: Agron. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Agron. J.; (United States) Vol. 78; ISSN AGJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ATMOSPHERES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CEREALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
GRASS
GROWTH
MAIZE
MOISTURE
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
SOILS
TRANSPIRATION