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Title: Effects of elevated CO[sub 2] and non-limiting nutrients on growth and photosynthesis of loblolly pine

Conference · · Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States)
OSTI ID:7264790
; ;  [1]
  1. Duke Univ., Durham, NC (United States)

The effect of long-term CO[sub 2] enrichment and non-limiting nutrients on growth and photosynthesis were studied on loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings grown in three atmospheric CO[sub 2] partial pressures (ambient, ambient + 15 Pa, and ambient + 30 Pa) for 18 months in the field. Total plant biomass increased 20% for plants grown at +15 Pa and 50% for plants grown at + 30 PA compared with plants grown at ambient CO[sub 2]. Relative growth rates were higher for elevated CO[sub 2] plants in the first 10 months of treatment, then similar thereafter. Plants grown at elevated CO[sub 2] were also taller, had greater photosynthetic leaf area, and more frequent leaf flushes. Net photosynthesis was higher for plants grown in elevated CO[sub 2] in all seasons, but this difference was much greater in spring and summer. Rubisco content, activity and activation state were unaffected by growth at elevated CO[sub 2] indicating no regulation of rubisco occurred at elevated CO[sub 2]. Results from this experiment and from a previous experiment (under limiting nutrient conditions) suggest that the magnitude of the growth and photosynthetic response to a future, high-CO[sub 2] environment will largely depend on soil fertility.

OSTI ID:
7264790
Report Number(s):
CONF-940894-; CODEN: BECLAG
Journal Information:
Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States), Vol. 75:2; Conference: Annual Ecological Society of America (ESA) meeting: science and public policy, Knoxville, TN (United States), 7-11 Aug 1994; ISSN 0012-9623
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English