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Leaf Photosynthesis Water Use of Big Bluestem under Elevated Carbon Dioxide

Evapotranspiration Lab., Dep.of Agronomy, Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS 66506

T. P. Bolger, D. J. Lawlor and E. T. Kanemasu

USDA-ARS Cropping Systems Res. Lab, Lubbock, TX
Texas A&M Univ. Agric. Res. and Ext. Ctr., Corpus Christi, Griffin, TX
Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Georgia, Griffin, GA.

^* Corresponding author.

With the atmospheric concentration of CO₂ increasing, it is importanto know how this will affect crop growth. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of elevated CO₂ on big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) growing in a tallgrass prairie on Tully silty clay loam (fine, mixed, mesic Pachic Argiustoll) kept a high water level (field capacity) or a low water level (half field capacity). Sixteen cylindrical plastic chambers were placed on the prairie to maintain the two levels of CO₂ (mean ± SD: 337 ± 32 and 658 ± 81 µmol mol^-1) over a full growing season. Soil-water content was measured weekly with a neutron probe. Photosynthesis, transpiration, stonmtal resistance, and intercellular CO₂ concentration were determined with a portable leaf photosynthetic system. Canopy temperature was monitored with an infrared thermometer. Elevated (doubled) CO₂ reduced transpiration rate of big binestem by 25 and 35% under the high- and low-water treatments, respectively. Under both watering regimes, stomatal resistance was greater by 1.6 s cm^-1 with doubled CO₂ than with ambient CO₂. Plants grown with doubled CO₂ at high- and low-water levels had warmer canopy temperatures (average 1.15 and 0.70 °C warmer, respectively) than plants grown ambient CO₂. Carbon-dioxide concentration did not affect the rate of photosynthesis, even though intercellular CO₂ concentration was increased under high CO₂. Elevated CO₂ did not increase the height of plants grown at the high water level, but it did increase the height at the low water level by an average of 9 cm.

Received for publication December 17, 1990.

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