Carbon dioxide enrichment accelerates the decline in nutrient status and relative growth rate of Populus tremuloides Michx. seedlings

Abstract

Changes in growth dynamics and mineral nutrient concentrations were measured in Populus tremuloides Michx., trembling aspen, grown for 100 days following germination in atmospheres containing 350 or 750 microl l(-1) CO(2). Seedlings were fertilized with nitrogen (N) at concentrations of 15.5 mM (high-N), 1.55 mM (medium-N), or 0.155 mM (low-N). Initially, relative growth rates were enhanced by CO(2) enrichment in each N regime, but the effects did not persist. In plants grown in high-N or medium-N, foliar concentrations of Ca and Mg decreased in response to CO(2) enrichment. During the 100-day study, whole-plant concentrations of N and P decreased in all treatments. The decreases in mineral nutrient concentrations over time were accelerated in CO(2)-enriched plants and accompanied the disappearance of the CO(2)-induced growth enhancement. It is concluded that the depression of relative growth rates often associated with long-term CO(2) enrichment of plants may result from decreases in plant nutrient status.

Growth Response of Calophyllum inophyllum L. Seedlings to Elevated Carbon Dioxide Enriched with Certain Nutrients

“…Similar results were found by Lotfiomran et al, (2016) where an increased biomass of seedlings of Fagus sylvaestica under elevated conditions was observed, however, the interaction effect of fertilization of seedlings with Nitrogen and elevated CO 2 was absent. Same fact could be ascribed to the increased relative growth rate for biomass index (Table 5) in the present study, where, the elevated CO 2 increased the relative growth rate for seedling biomass (Brown, 1989).…”

Changes in dry weight and nitrogen partitioning induced by elevated CO2 depend on soil nutrient availability in sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill)

“…In general, higher CO 2 concentrations produce tissues with lower nitrogen concentration (Williams et al, 1986;Brown, 1991 (Conroy et al, 1990).…”

Aspen mortality in the Colorado and southern Wyoming Rocky Mountains: Extent, severity, and causal factors

“…Experiments featuring elevated carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) have indicated initial increases in relative growth rates (RGR) in aspen, although growth rates subsequently decrease, possibly due to limited plant available nutrients (Brown, K.R., 1991). Lindroth et al (2001) found that aspen genotype strongly influences how an individual responds to an atmosphere of enriched CO 2 .…”