CO2 Responses of Winter Wheat, Barley and Oat Cultivars under Optimum and Limited Irrigation

Zsuzsanna Farkas,Ottó Veisz,Gyula Vida,Angéla Anda,Balázs Varga

doi:10.3390/su13179931

Abstract

Field crop production must adapt to the challenges generated by the negative consequences of climate change. Yield loss caused by abiotic stresses could be counterbalanced by increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration, but C3 plant species and varieties have significantly different reactions to CO2. To examine the responses of wheat, barley and oat varieties to CO2 enrichment in combination with simulated drought, a model experiment was conducted under controlled environmental conditions. The plants were grown in climate-controlled greenhouse chambers under ambient and enriched (700 ppm and 1000 ppm) CO2 concentrations. Water shortage was induced by discontinuing the irrigation at BBCH stages 21 and 55. Positive CO2 responses were determined in barley, but the CO2-sink ability was low in oats. Reactions of winter wheat to enriched CO2 concentration varied greatly in terms of the yield parameters (spike number and grain yield). The water uptake of all wheat cultivars decreased significantly; however at the same time, water-use efficiency improved under 1000 ppm CO2. Mv Ikva was not susceptible to CO2 fertilization, while no consequent CO2 reactions were observed for Mv Nádor and Mv Nemere. Positive CO2 responses were determined in Mv Kolompos.

Highlights

At 700 ppm CO2 concentration, in barley, oat, Mv Ikva and Mv Kolompos, significant differences in biomass were observed between the treatments (‘C’, ‘T’ and ‘H’), and the water shortage at BBCH 55 caused significant reductions in biomass values in all examined varieties
Genotypic differences related to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration were confirmed in this study, the role of environmental factors was significant in this regard
Positive CO2 fertilization effects were found for barley (Mv Initium); CO2 enrichment induced higher biomass and grain yield, decreased water uptake and better water-use efficiency

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. The Industrial Revolution had significant environmental and social impacts. Due to its enormous agricultural, hygienic and medical achievements, the human population is projected to exceed 10 billion by the end of the century [1]. The greatest challenges of the upcoming decades will be to maintain food security and to ensure drinking water supply. The inventions of the Industrial Revolution accelerated the rate of population growth, and the burning of fossil fuels, increasing the concentration of atmospheric CO2 from 280 ppm [2] to ~416 ppm [3]. If CO2 emission remains at the current level, in 30 years its atmospheric concentration will reach 550 ppm [4].

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