Effects of elevated CO2 and cutting frequency on the productivity and herbage quality of a semi-natural grassland

Monoliths of a fertile, although N limited, C₃ grassland community were subjected (or not) to an atmospheric CO₂ enrichment (600 μmol mol^?1), owing to the Mini-FACE system from August 1998 to June 2001, at two contrasting cutting frequencies (3 and 6 cuts per year). The present study reports the effects of elevated CO₂ on the above-ground productivity and on the herbage quality. Elevated CO₂ did not affect the dry matter (DM) yield of the swards in 1999. In 2000, the second year, there was a positive CO₂ effect (+26%) both on the DM and on the nitrogen yields (+30%). With the frequently cut monoliths, the DM of the legume component of the sward was strongly increased by elevated CO₂. This effect became also significant in July 2000 for the low cutting frequency treatment. These results are in good agreement with the concept of an increased legume development and symbiotic N₂ fixation triggered by an increased ecosystem scale demand of N under elevated CO₂. At a low cutting frequency, the DM of the forbs was strongly increased in elevated compared with ambient CO₂. This increased development of the forbs apparently led to a competitive decline of the grasses. Therefore, the total DM yield response to CO₂ was smaller at a low (+15%) compared with a high (+36%) cutting frequency in 2000. An increase in the water soluble sugar content of the bulk forage under elevated CO₂ and a corresponding decline in cell wall contents (NDF) were observed. In June 1999, the decline in NDF was correlated with an increased in-vitro DM digestibility. The forage quality was also indirectly affected by elevated CO₂ through changes in leaf:stem ratio and in botanical composition. At a low cutting frequency, the increased forb content favoured the herbage quality because of a higher digestibility of the forb shoots and, indirectly, through the reduction in the mass of the grass stems. These results emphasise the role of species dynamics for elevated CO₂ impacts on semi-natural grassland productivity and herbage quality.