Journal Article

Food for Thought: Lower-Than-Expected Crop Yield Stimulation with Rising CO₂ Concentrations

Ainsworth, Elizabeth A, Leakey, Andrew D.B, Long, Stephen P, Nösberger, Josef, Ort, Donald R

2006

Overview

Model projections suggest that although increased temperature and decreased soil moisture will act to reduce global crop yields by 2050, the direct fertilization effect of rising carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) will offset these losses. The CO₂ fertilization factors used in models to project future yields were derived from enclosure studies conducted approximately 20 years ago. Free-air concentration enrichment (FACE) technology has now facilitated large-scale trials of the major grain crops at elevated [CO₂] under fully open-air field conditions. In those trials, elevated [CO₂] enhanced yield by ~50% less than in enclosure studies. This casts serious doubt on projections that rising [CO₂] will fully offset losses due to climate change.

• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science,The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subject: Agricultural and forest climatology and meteorology. Irrigation. Drainage / Agricultural and forest meteorology / Agricultural production / Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions / Atmosphere / Biological and medical sciences / Biomass / Carbon Dioxide / carbon dioxide fertilization factors / Climate change / Climatic models of plant production / Crop yield / Crops / Crops, Agricultural - growth & development / Crops, Agricultural - metabolism / dry matter accumulation / elevated atmospheric gases / enclosure studies / Fertilizers / field experimentation / Forecasting / free air concentration enrichment studies / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / General agronomy. Plant production / Generalities. Techniques. Climatology. Meteorology. Climatic models of plant production / Glycine max - growth & development / Glycine max - metabolism / Grain crops / growth chambers / Meta-Analysis as Topic / Nitrogen / Ozone / Photosynthesis / Plant reproduction / Poaceae - growth & development / Poaceae - metabolism / Soil moisture / Sorghum - growth & development / Sorghum - metabolism / Temperature / Triticum - growth & development / Triticum - metabolism / Water / Zea mays - growth & development / Zea mays - metabolism