高低应答CO_2水稻品种苗期根系对高碳环境的响应

本文利用水培试验和琼脂板培养试验研究了高CO_2条件下产量响应存在显著差异的两个水稻品种:II优084(高响应)和武运粳23(低响应),在幼苗期根系形态对高C的响应差异。水培试验结果表明,在幼苗时期,高应答品种II优084在低氮条件下地上部生物量在高CO_2下增加28.5%,根系干物质量对高CO_2响应显著,增幅为28.5%,而其不定根数目没有显著增加,对干物质量响应贡献较大的为总根长。II优084的总根长在高CO_2下增幅为26.3%,不同根粗的根长均有高响应。低应答品种武运粳23低氮下地上部和根系响应不显著,而在正常氮和高氮下则不同。正常氮条件下,地上部对高CO_2响应不显著,而根系生物量在高CO_2下显著增加76.0%,不定根数目增加25.8%,同时总根长增加45.0%,不同根粗的根长均有高响应,II优084则没有显著响应。在高氮条件下,武运粳23地上部生物量在高CO_2下增加35.5%,根系生物量增加80.3%,不定根数目增加38.5%,根系平均直径增加16.7%,总根长无响应,而II优084生物量在高氮下无显著差异。同时,武运粳23在正常氮和高氮下的根系表面积和体积对高CO_2响应也较II优084显著。琼脂板培养试验的结果与水培结果一致,武运粳23根系形态对高浓度蔗糖的响应普遍高于II优084。试验结果说明品种对高C环境的响应特征不随培养条件的变化而变化。与植株生长后期不同,在幼苗期正常氮条件下低应答品种武运粳23的根系生物量和各形态指标对高C的响应明显高于II优084,说明水稻苗期生长响应参数与后期产量响应参数不一定一致,可能是由于苗期生长高响应的品种在营养生长期旺长,反而不利于后期生殖生长,从而导致后期产量的低响应。     

外源镉和温度变化对不同品种水稻抽穗期光合特性的影响

探讨外源镉（Cd）和温度变化对水稻抽穗期光合特性的影响,为水稻生长过程中应对稻田土壤重金属污染和气候变暖的复合作用提供理论依据。通过添加外源Cd （0和2 mg/kg土）和模拟温度（白天/夜晚分别为30℃/25℃（CK）、33℃/28℃（T1）、36℃/31℃（T2））,研究外源Cd和温度变化对不同品种水稻（武运粳30号和新两优6号）抽穗期光合参数、荧光参数及其生物量的影响。结果表明,单一Cd处理显著降低了新两优6号的SPAD值,而单一增温处理则显著降低了武运粳30号的SPAD值（P<0.05）。虽然外源Cd和温度的复合作用未显著影响武运粳30号和新两优6号的净光合速率（P_n）,但Cd处理显著降低了两品种的P_n,而增温处理则显著影响了新两优6号的P_n;大部分Cd和温度处理下,新两优6号的SPAD值和P_n大于武运粳30号。Cd处理和增温处理均影响了水稻叶绿素诱导动力学曲线的形状,O、K、J和I点的荧光因处理的不同而具有一定差异。Cd处理和增温处理对水稻F_v/F_m和比活度参数的影响与水稻品种有关,Cd处理未显著影响运粳30号和新两优6号的F_v/F_m值,而增温处理则显著减少了武运粳30号的F_v/F_m值;新两优6号的比活度参数ABS/RC、DIo/RC、TRo/RC、ET0/RC在Cd处理下显著降低,而武运粳30号的比活度参数在增温处理下则显著增加（P<0.05）。Cd处理显著降低了新两优6号的茎叶生物量,而增温处理则显著降低了武运粳30号茎叶生物量,然而两者的复合作用对水稻茎叶和根生物量的影响因品种不用而具有差异,新两优6号的茎叶和根干物质量在大部分处理下大于武运粳30号。综上可知,Cd和增温处理通过影响水稻的光合参数和荧光参数,从而影响水稻的生物量,但影响程度因品种不同而具有差异,其中,武运粳30号对Cd具有较强的抗性而新两优6号对增温有较强的抗性。因此,在实际的田间管理中,应选择合适的水稻品种,以应对土壤Cd污染和温度升高对水稻生长的影响。     

不同硝响应型水稻品种苗期根系生长对增硝营养的响应

利用控制条件下的水培试验方法,研究了两种铵硝配比(NH4+/NO3-为100/0和75/25)营养条件对4种不同硝响应型水稻品种苗期根系生长的影响。结果表明,在增硝营养(NH4+/NO3-为75/25)条件下,不同水稻品种NO3-的反应差异明显。与全NH4+营养条件相比,增硝营养条件下对NO3-强响应的水稻品种南光的根系干重和氮积累量显著增加,增幅达50%和79%;同时南光的根系总根长、总不定根长和总侧根长增幅均达到显著水平;不定根数、新根数和侧根数亦显著增加;平均不定根长和平均侧根长差异不显著;对硝弱响应型的水稻品种上海97、辽粳和Elio在增硝营养培养下的根系不定根、新根和侧根的长度和数量差异均不显著。这表明增NO3-营养仅仅促进了对NO3-强响应型水稻南光根系的不定根和侧根的发生,进而促进根系对氮素的吸收,并没有促进不定根和侧根的伸长。从本试验的结果可推论,水稻根系对硝态氮的响应度强弱可能是水稻品种氮素效率差异性的因子之一。     

大气CO2倍增对水稻生长和发育的影响

矮香糯水稻(Oryza sativa L, )插身后生长在大气（350ppm CO₂）和CO₂倍增（700 ppm CO₂）的开顶式培养室中，结果显示，在CO₂倍增的条件下，矮香糯生长旺盛，根系发达，根系干重增加23%，株高增加12%，每穗结实率增加29%，每株籽粒干重增加41%。本文对目前有关这方面的研究现状进行了讨论。     

不同水稻品种获取氮能力的差异

采用溶液培养方法研究了不同水稻品种获取氮能力的差异及其原因。结果表明,在不同供氮水平下,不同水稻品种吸氮能力差异显著。随着供氮水平的提高,南光、豫粳7号、黔育421和武运粳7号的氮积累总量增加显著,说明这4个水稻品种对氮的响应度高;而桂单4号、ELIO、云粳38和4007的氮积累总量增加不显著,说明它们对氮的响应度低。对氮响应度高的4个水稻品种的平均吸氮速率随着供氮水平的增加其增幅显著,而其总根长的变化幅度则较小。水稻氮积累总量与总根长和平均吸氮速率的相关关系的分析结果表明,平均吸氮速率对水稻苗期获取氮能力的贡献率大于其总根长的贡献率。     

不同供磷状况下CO2浓度升高对番茄根系生长及养分吸收的影响

采用培养试验研究了磷缺乏与正常供磷条件下,CO₂浓度由350μL/L升高至800μL/L苗期番茄的生物量、根系特征和不同器官N、P、K养分含量的变化。结果表明,无论缺磷与否,CO₂浓度升高均能显著增加番茄地上部及根系的干物质积累量,提高根冠比。在磷缺乏条件下,CO₂浓度升高对番茄根系生长的促进主要表现为增加根系的体积和表面积;而在磷正常供应条件下主要表现为同时增加根体积和分根数,有利于形成强壮的根系。在两种供磷水平下,CO₂浓度升高对番茄各器官的N、P、K含量产生不同的稀释效应,但N、P、K总积累量却随CO₂浓度升高而显著增加;而且CO₂浓度与供P水平对番茄植株的N、P、K积累量具有极显著的正交互效应。     

水分和CO2对玉米光合性能及水分利用率的影响

利用环境生长室探讨不同CO₂浓度和土壤水分亏缺处理下玉米植株生物量、气孔形态与分布特征、叶片气体交换参数、叶绿素荧光参数等生长及生理指标的变化规律。以‘郑单958’ 玉米品种为试材,利用环境生长室设置2个CO₂浓度和4个土壤水分梯度对玉米进行CO₂浓度和水分处理。结果表明：1）不同程度土壤水分亏缺均显著降低玉米地上生物量（P<0.05）,但CO₂浓度升高增加了轻度水分亏缺条件下玉米地上生物量（P<0.01）和总生物量（P<0.01）。2）大气CO₂浓度升高导致轻度和中度水分亏缺条件下玉米的净光合速率（P_n）分别提高15.8%（P<0.05）和25.7%（P=0.001）,而CO₂浓度升高却降低了玉米叶片蒸腾速率（P<0.001）和气孔导度（P<0.001）,最终导致玉米瞬时水分利用效率均显著提高（P<0.001）。3）不同水分处理对玉米叶片气孔密度和单个气孔形态特征均造成显著影响（P<0.01）。因此,大气CO₂浓度升高可以增加轻度水分亏缺条件下玉米叶片氮含量、叶片非结构性碳水化合物含量和光合电子传递速率,从而提高玉米植株的生物量累积以及叶片碳同化能力和水分利用效率。研究结果将为深入理解气候变化背景下玉米对大气CO₂浓度升高和土壤水分亏缺的生理生态响应机制提供科学依据。     

高浓度CO2下氮素对小麦叶片干物质积累及碳氮关系的影响

高大气CO₂浓度下植物叶片干物质积累、碳氮关系和糖含量的变化对光合作用的适应性下调有重要的反馈作用,通过研究不同施氮量对高大气CO₂浓度下植物叶片干物质积累、叶氮浓度和糖含量的影响,可进一步明确氮素对植物光合作用适应性下调的调控机制。以不同大气CO₂浓度和氮素水平为处理条件,测定盆栽小麦拔节期叶片鲜重、干重、含水量、还原糖、可溶性糖、全氮含量,研究了氮素对长期高大气CO₂浓度(760μmol·mol-1)下小麦叶片的干物质积累、糖含量及碳氮含量的影响。结果表明,大气CO₂浓度升高使小麦叶片的鲜重和干重增加,含水量下降。大气CO₂浓度升高使N0处理的小麦叶片还原糖含量下降,而可溶性糖含量显著升高;施氮后小麦叶片还原糖含量无显著变化,但可溶性糖含量降低。高大气CO₂浓度条件下小麦叶片全氮含量下降,C/N比增加,而增施氮素后C/N比显著下降。可溶性糖含量和C/N比的下降有利于减轻同化物质对光合作用的反馈抑制,提高大气CO₂浓度增高条件下小麦叶片的P_n。     

大气CO2 浓度升高对绿豆生长及C、N 吸收的影响

研究大气CO₂ 浓度升高对绿豆生长及C、N 吸收的影响, 有助于了解未来气候变化下绿豆养分平衡的变化。利用FACE (Free Air CO₂ Enrichment)系统在大田条件下研究了CO₂ 浓度升高对绿豆生物量及C、N 吸收的影响。结果表明: 大气CO₂ 浓度升高使绿豆叶、茎、荚、根、地上部分生物量、总生物量及根冠比增加。各发育期地上部分含N 量下降10.39%~21.06%, 含C 量增加0.41%~1.13%, C/N 增加12.23%~26.68%; 籽粒中N、C 含量及C/N 无显著变化。植株地上部分吸N 量和吸C 量分别增加1.99%~50.87%和14.43%~92.69%。未来大气CO₂ 浓度升高条件下, 绿豆将通过生物量的增加固定更多的C, 并增加对N 素的吸收, 未来的绿豆生产应考虑增加土壤的施肥水平以保证其养分供应。     

CO2浓度升高对不同水分条件下冬小麦生长和水分利用的影响

以CO₂浓度升高为主要特征的气候变化对作物生长发育及产量形成的影响日益受到重视。冬小麦是我国主要粮食作物之一, 主要分布在干旱及半干旱地区, 且生长期内多干旱少雨。研究不同水分条件下冬小麦的生长变化及水分利用对CO₂浓度升高的响应具有重要的科学和实践意义。本研究在封顶式生长室中对2个土壤水分水平[适宜水分: 70%~80%田间持水量; 干旱胁迫: 50%~60%田间持水量]的盆栽冬小麦进行了CO₂熏蒸试验[背景大气浓度: (396.1±29.2) μmol·mol^-1; 升高的浓度: (760.1±36.1)μmol·mol^-1]。对小麦植株生理指标、生物量、产量、耗水量和水分利用效率(WUE)等的研究结果表明, 与背景大气CO₂浓度相比, CO₂浓度升高可促进冬小麦生长, 其地上生物量显著增加, 适宜水分和干旱胁迫条件下分别增加了28.6%和18.6%; 籽粒产量显著增加, 适宜水分和干旱胁迫条件下分别增加了32.6%和22.6%; CO₂浓度升高主要通过增加穗粒数提高籽粒产量, 穗粒数在适宜水分条件下提高24.3%, 干旱胁迫条件下提高15.5%, 对千粒重没有显著影响。CO₂浓度升高使群体和产量WUE显著提高, 在适宜水分条件下提高幅度较大, 分别提高17.7%和24.8%。CO₂浓度升高显著提高了叶片光合速率(P_n)、降低了气孔导度(G_s)和蒸腾速率(T_r); 在适宜水分和干旱胁迫下P_n分别提高15.6%与12.9%, G_s分别降低22.7%与18.2%, T_r分别降低8.9%与7.5%。CO₂浓度升高提高了叶片水势及叶绿素含量; 在适宜水分条件下叶片水势提高幅度较大, 为7.7%; 叶片叶绿素含量在2种水分条件分别提高7.5%与3.8%。由以上试验结果可得出: CO₂浓度升高对冬小麦的生长、产量及水分利用效率均具有促进作用, 而且在土壤水分状况较好时, 这种作用效果更明显; CO₂浓度升高主要通过增加穗粒数来促进产量提高。     

Biomass allocation and organs growth of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under elevated CO2 and different N supply

This article studied the effects of nitrogen (N) and CO₂ enrichment on biomass and N accumulation and partitioning of cucumber grown in open top chambers. At the seedling stage, elevated CO₂ increased the biomass and N content of the entire plant. The root had the largest increase in biomass and N content among the organs and more biomass allocation. The largest drops of N concentration showed in root at moderate and high N, in leaf at low N, respectively. Elevated CO₂ increased stem biomass allocation at moderate and high N, but decreased leaf biomass allocation at all N levels. At the initial fruit stage, the response to elevated CO₂ of biomass and N content decreased. Elevated CO₂ increased biomass allocation to leaf and resulted in the largest drop of leaf N concentration at low and moderate N supply. High N supply promoted biomass production and N reallocation from the leaf to fruit, but decreased leaf biomass allocation. Thus, biomass allocation is initially affected by root–shoot growth balance to adapt to enriched CO₂, leading to the largest root growth, then biomass allocates to another sink (stem). Long exposure of elevated CO₂ results in photosynthetic acclimation in deficient N supply, which probably attributes to excessive stem and leaf biomass allocation and shortage of fruit storage. But high N shifts biomass allocation from leaf to fruit. Practically, sufficient N supply is needed for an efficient transport of carbohydrates to fruits and increases the yields under elevated CO₂.     

大气CO2浓度升高对矿质元素在水稻中分配及其根际有效性的影响

在开放式空气CO₂浓度升高(free-air CO₂ enrichment, FACE)条件下,研究了籼稻IIY084与粳稻WYJ23根际土壤矿质元素(Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn、Ca和Mg)有效态含量及其在水稻各组织中的吸收与分配,结合前期稻米矿质元素含量下降的研究结果,探讨了其下降的机制。结果表明:大气CO₂浓度升高,显著增加水稻穗、茎、根和整株生物量,两个品种平均增加19.4%、9.3%、23.4%、16.0%;根际土壤中矿质元素的有效态含量大体呈增加趋势;除Ca吸收量增加外,水稻其他矿质元素总吸收量未发生显著变化;显著促进大部分矿质元素在穗中的吸收与分配,而降低其在茎中的分配比;在穗内有增加大部分矿质元素在壳梗中滞留的趋势,相应地减少其在糙米中的分配比。品种效应分析显示,IIY084的茎和整株生物量,以及穗中Fe、Mn、Cu,叶中Zn、Mg,茎中Cu的吸收量与分配百分数均显著高于WYJ23,而叶中Mn、茎中Fe和根中Cu、Zn则呈相反趋势。可见,大气CO₂浓度升高条件下,碳水化合物与矿质元素从植...     

Nitrogen supply determines responses of yield and biomass partitioning of perennial ryegrass to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. cv. Parcour) grown at eight levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization (0–765 mg/pot) was exposed to ambient (390 ppm) and elevated (690 ppm) carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations for 83 days. Plants were cut three times and dry matter yields determined for each harvest. At final harvest, dry weight of root and stubble biomass was determined, as N concentrations of all plant fractions were determined. Carbon dioxide enrichment effects on yield and total plant biomass increased with increasing N fertilization. The weaker CO₂‐related yield enhancement at low N supply was due to the plants inability to increase tiller number. Root fraction of total plant biomass at final harvest was increased by high CO₂ and decreased by N supply. Root biomass was significantly increased by CO₂ enrichment and for both CO₂ treatments the N supply for maximum root mass coincided with the N supply for reaching maximum total plant biomass. A significant correlation between root fraction of total plant dry matter and N concentration of total plant biomass, which was not changed by CO₂ enrichment, indicates that biomass partitioning between shoot and root is controlled by the internal N status of the plant.     

Changes in soil microbial biomass carbon and enzyme activities under elevated CO2 affect fine root decomposition processes in a Mongolian oak ecosystem

The relationships between soil microbial properties and fine root decomposition processes under elevated CO₂ are poorly understood. To address this question, we determined soil microbial biomass carbon (SMB-C) and nitrogen (SMB-N), enzymes related to soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling, the abundance of cultivable N-fixing bacteria and cellulolytic fungi, fine root organic matter, lignin and holocellulose decomposition, and N mineralization from 2006 to 2007 in a Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica Fischer ex Ledebour) ecosystem in northeastern China. The experiment consisted of three treatments: elevated CO₂ chambers, ambient CO₂ chambers, and chamberless plots. Fine roots had significantly greater organic matter decomposition rates under elevated CO₂. This corresponded with significantly greater SMB-C. Changes in the activities of protease and phenol oxidase under elevated CO₂ could not explain the changes in fine root N release and lignin decomposition rates, respectively, while holocellulose decomposition rate had the same response to experimental treatments as did cellulase activity. Changes in cultivable N-fixing bacterial and cellulolytic fungal abundances in response to experimental treatments were identical to those of N mineralization and lignin decomposition rates, respectively, suggesting that the two indices were closely related to fine root N mineralization and lignin decomposition. Our results showed that the increased fine root organic matter, lignin and holocellulose decomposition, and N mineralization rates under elevated CO₂ could be explained by shifts in SMB-C and the abundance of cellulolytic fungi and N-fixing bacteria. Enzyme activities are not reliable for the assessment of fine root decomposition and more attention should be given to the measurement of specific bacterial and fungal communities.     

不同氮效率水稻品种苗期吸氮效率差异及其机理研究

以大田筛选得到的不同生物学特性的12个水稻品种为材料,研究了水培条件下这些品种苗期的吸N效率差异,结果表明大田N效率不同的品种在苗期水培条件下吸N效率也不相同,并且大田相同类型的品种在苗期N效率也不完全相同。供试7个大田高产品种中只有桂单4号、云粳38和黔育421这3个水稻品种在水培环境中同样保持较其它品种生物量大,N响应高的特性;另外3个大田高产品种南光、予粳7号和4007在苗期N效率表现很差;红稻Vmax虽然很大,但是生物量很小,所以综合表现一般。3个低产品种Elio、抚宁小红芒和黄金糯中,Elio在苗期N效率很高,另外2个品种N效率不高。研究发现,生物量(尤其是根系的生物量)和对NH4 的亲和力(1/Km)以及Vmax是水稻苗期吸N效率的主要决定因素。典型的苗期N高效品种有桂单4号、黔育421、Elio和云粳38,这些品种苗期N累积量高,N响应值高,原因在于桂单4号、黔育421和Elio在水平增加后Vmax都成倍增加,尤其Elio的Vmax一直都很高,而云粳38则主要是靠较高的生物量来获得高吸N量。典型的低效品种有南光、4007、武运粳7号和予粳7号,这些品种N累积量小,N响应值小,原因在于其中前3个品种在N水平增加后Vmax都降低,Km大幅度增加,而予粳7号虽然Vmax稍有增加,但亲和力则降低最大而成为所有品种中最低的,所以综合结果仍是低效。     

CO2浓度升高对不同水稻品种幼苗养分吸收和根系形态的影响

本文利用水培试验研究了CO2浓度升高对水稻幼苗生物量、养分含量和根形态的影响,探讨了CO2浓度升高下粤杂889(YZ)和荣优398 (RY)幼苗养分吸收和根系形态的差异性.结果表明,与CO2浓度正常水平(对照)相比,CO2浓度升高显著增加了2个水稻品种幼苗根系、茎叶和总生物量,YZ分别增加58.33％、27.96％、33.16％;RY分别增加45.87％、34.17％、36.07％.同时,CO2浓度升高增加了2个水稻品种的根冠比.CO2浓度升高显著降低了2个水稻品种茎叶中的N、P、K、Ca、Mg和Fe含量,这是“稀释效应”的结果;但YZ幼苗中S含量显著增加,2个品种幼苗Mn含量均显著增加.CO2浓度升高显著增加了2个水稻品种的幼苗根系根毛数、总根长、表面积,降低幼苗粗根比例,增加了细根比例.CO2浓度升高增加了细根在总根长中的比例,有利于水稻对养分的吸收,导致部分营养元素含量增加;但CO2浓度升高条件下水稻生物量的增加使大部分营养元素含量降低.同时,CO2浓度升高对水稻幼苗生物量、养分吸收和根形态的影响存在显著的品种差异.     

Elevated CO2 differentially alters belowground plant and soil microbial community structure in reed canary grass-invaded experimental wetlands

Several recent studies have indicated that an enriched atmosphere of carbon dioxide (CO₂) could exacerbate the intensity of plant invasions within natural ecosystems, but little is known of how rising CO₂ impacts the belowground characteristics of these invaded systems. In this study, we examined the effects of elevated CO₂ and nitrogen (N) inputs on plant and soil microbial community characteristics of plant communities invaded by reed canary grass, Phalaris arundinacea L. We grew the invasive grass under two levels of invasion: the invader was either dominant (high invasion) at >90% plant cover or sub-dominant (low invasion) at <50% plant cover. Experimental wetland communities were grown for four months in greenhouses that received either 600 or 365 μl l⁻¹ (ambient) CO₂. Within each of three replicate rooms per CO₂ treatment, the plant communities were grown under high (30 mg l⁻¹) or low (5 mg l⁻¹) N. In contrast to what is often predicted under N limitation, we found that elevated CO₂ increased native graminoid biomass at low N, but not at high N. The aboveground biomass of reed canary grass did not respond to elevated CO₂, despite it being a fast-growing C3 species. Although elevated CO₂ had no impact on the plant biomass of heavily invaded communities, the relative abundance of several soil microbial indicators increased. In contrast, the moderately invaded plant communities displayed increased total root biomass under elevated CO_2, while little impact occurred on the relative abundance of soil microbial indicators. Principal components analysis indicated that overall soil microbial community structure was distinct by CO₂ level for the varying N and invasion treatments. This study demonstrates that even when elevated CO₂ does not have visible effects on aboveground plant biomass, it can have large impacts belowground.     

Elevated carbon dioxide and nitrogen supply affect photosynthesis and nitrogen partitioning of two wheat varieties

The response of wheat to elevated carbon dioxide concentration (e[CO₂]) is likely to be dependent on nitrogen supply. To investigate the underlying mechanism of growth response to e[CO₂], two wheat cultivars were grown under different carbon dioxide concentration [CO₂] in a chamber experimental facility. The changes in leaf photosynthesis, C and N concentration, and biomass were investigated under different [CO₂] and N supply. The result showed an increase in photosynthesis under e[CO₂] at all N level except the one with the lowest N supply. Furthermore, a significant decrease in g_s and Tr for both the cultivars was also observed under e[CO₂] at all N levels. A considerable increase in WUEi was observed for both the cultivars under e[CO₂] at all N levels except for the lowest concentration one. Therefore, the study shows that a stimulation of plant growth under e[CO₂] to be marginal at higher N supply.     

Elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> concentration affected pine and oak litter chemistry and the respiration and microbial biomass of soils amended with these litters

Elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) may change litter chemistry which affects litter decomposability. This study investigated respiration and microbial biomass of soils amended with litter of Pinus densiflora (a coniferous species; pine) and Quercus variabilis (a deciduous species; oak) that were grown under different atmospheric [CO₂] and thus had different chemistry. Elevated [CO₂] increased lignin/N through increased lignin concentration and decreased N concentration. The CO₂ emission from the soils amended with litter produced under the same [CO₂] regime was greater for oak than pine litter, confirming that broadleaf litter with lower lignin decomposes faster than needle leaf litter. Within each species, however, soils amended with high lignin/N litter grown under elevated [CO₂] emitted more CO₂ than those with low lignin/N litter grown under ambient [CO₂]. Such contrasting effects of lignin/N on inter- and intra-species variations in litter decomposition should be ascribed to the effects of other litter chemistry variables including nonstructural carbohydrate, calcium and manganese as well as inhibitory effect of N on lignin decomposition. The microbial biomass was also higher in the soils amended with high lignin/N litter than those with low lignin/N litter probably due to low substrate use efficiency of lignin by microbes. Our study suggests that elevated [CO₂] increases lignin/N for both species, but increased lignin/N does not always reduce soil respiration and microbial biomass. Further study investigating a variety of tree species is required for more comprehensive understanding of inter- and intra-species variations of litter decomposition under elevated [CO₂].     

Elevated atmospheric CO2 affects the turnover of nitrogen in a European grassland

The availability of nutrients in the soil is key to the potential response of a plant to elevated CO₂ and is central to correctly predicting the response of terrestrial communities to climate change. In order for a plant to fully realise the potential of increased atmospheric CO₂, it must increase its nutrient uptake for the increased production of biomass as well as biochemical compounds. In this study the stable isotope ¹⁵N was used to follow the fate of nitrogen contained in litter in order to determine the effect elevated atmospheric CO₂ had on the loss of nitrogen from decomposing litter and the eventual re-use of this nitrogen. During the decomposition study, on a mass basis more ¹⁵N was transferred from the litter despite the litter grown in elevated CO₂ initially having a lower ¹⁵N signal. This was primarily related to a higher decomposition rate of the elevated CO₂ grown litter. Despite more nitrogen entering the below-ground community under elevated atmospheric CO₂, the additional N did not stay within the terrestrial community and was not exploited by the plants. The results confirm previous suggestions that Lolium perenne plants growing in elevated CO₂ have to derive at least a proportion of their nitrogen from a source external to either added fertiliser or decomposing litter