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Effects of Elevated CO2 on Herbaceous Plant Communities
Reference
Hartz-Rubin, J.S. and DeLucia, E.H.  2001.  Canopy development of a model herbaceous community exposed to elevated atmospheric CO2 and soil nutrients.  Physiologia Plantarum 113: 258-266.

What was done
The authors placed model herbaceous communities consisting of 14 co-occurring species in plastic tubs within growth chambers receiving atmospheric CO2 concentrations of 370 and 800 ppm.  In addition, the communities were either fertilized with a soil nutrient solution or left unfertilized as controls.  Thus, the authors studied the interactive effects of elevated CO2 and soil fertilization on the growth of these herbaceous communities, which were created to be representative of the early stages of abandoned agricultural fields in process of returning to their native state.

What was learned
Atmospheric CO2 enrichment caused faster canopy development, regardless of fertilization, as indicated by greater canopy heights at every point in time throughout the two-month study.  In addition, total biomass in the CO2-enriched communities was 26 and 20% greater than it was for ambiently-grown communities receiving fertilization and no fertilization, respectively.

What it means
As the CO2 concentration of the air continues to rise, it is likely that herbaceous plant communities growing on abandoned agricultural fields will exhibit enhanced canopy development and carbon uptake that will ultimately lead to greater biomass production.  Thus, soil erosion caused by the ravages of wind and water will likely decrease in the future on abandoned agricultural fields, for herbaceous species should colonize them much quicker and hold more of their soils together more tightly with their more extensive root systems.


Reviewed 6 March 2002