Acquisition and allocation of carbon and nitrogen by Danthonia richardsonii in response to restricted nitrogen supply and CO2 enrichment

Abstract

Dry weight (DW) and nitrogen (N) accumulation and allocation were measured in isolated plants of Danthonia richardsonii (Wallaby Grass) for 37 d following seed imbibition. Plants were grown at ≈ 365 or 735 μL L–1 CO2 with N supply of 0·05, 0·2 or 0·5 mg N plant–1 d–1. Elevated CO2 increased DW accumulation by 28% (low‐N) to 103% (high‐N), following an initial stimulation of relative growth rate. Net assimilation rate and leaf nitrogen productivity were increased by elevated CO2, while N concentration was reduced. N uptake per unit root surface area was unaffected by CO2 enrichment. The ratio of leaf area to root surface area was decreased by CO2 enrichment. Allometric analysis revealed a decrease in the shoot‐N to root‐N ratio at elevated CO2, while the shoot‐DW to root‐DW ratio was unchanged. Allometric analysis showed leaf area was reduced, while root surface area was unchanged by elevated CO2, indicating a down‐regulation of total plant capacity for carbon gain rather than a stimulation of mineral nutrient acquisition capacity. Overall, growth in elevated CO2 resulted in changes in plant morphology and nitrogen use, other than those associated simply with changing plant size and non‐structural carbohydrate content.