Rangeland -- Plant responses to elevated CO sub 2
Several broad conclusions which can be drawn from the work that was accomplished during the first 3-year phase of the study is described. In prairie ecosystems dominated by C{sub 4} grasses, it is likely that elevated atmospheric CO{sub 2} will increase ecosystem level productivity, with a greater increase in belowground productivity. The increased productivity will primarily result from increased water use efficiency due to the anti-transpirant action of CO{sub 2}. Fumigation chambers are directly confounded with elevated CO{sub 2} effects, in that both reduce evapotranspiration. The reduced evapotranspiration of the fumigation chamber is primarily through reduced wind speeds and reduced radiation. In very dry years, fumigation chamber effects are negligible, but in years with normal precipitation, chamber effects and elevated CO{sub 2} effects are essentially equal with respect to reduced evapotranspiration effects. Increased production under elevated CO{sub 2} results in reduced nitrogen concentration in the herbage and increased fiber concentrations. Consequently, digestibility of the herbage is reduced, and microbial degradation of surface litter and soil organic matter is slowed. On the negative side, ruminant productivity will likely be reduced substantially, but increased carbon storage in the soil may buffer against future rise in atmospheric CO{sub 2}. Tallgrass prairie will not likely change greatly in botanical composition, since the C{sub 4} dominants responded to elevated CO{sub 2} more than the C{sub 3} subdominants.
- Research Organization:
- Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States). Dept. of Agronomy
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-84ER60253
- OSTI ID:
- 7034458
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/60253-T5; ON: DE93000883
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Rangeland-plant response to elevated CO sub 2
Rangeland -- plant response to elevated CO{sub 2}. Progress report, 1993
Related Subjects
CARBON DIOXIDE
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
GRAMINEAE
PLANT GROWTH
RANGELANDS
CARBON CYCLE
BIOMASS
CARBON 13
CARBON DIOXIDE FIXATION
CARBON SINKS
CLIMATIC CHANGE
FIELD TESTS
ISOTOPE RATIO
NITROGEN CYCLE
PROGRESS REPORT
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
GROWTH
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
LILIOPSIDA
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
NUCLEI
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SINKS
STABLE ISOTOPES
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TESTING
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540120 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)