Nutritive value and the nitrogen dynamics of Trifolium subterraneum and Phalaris aquatica under warmer, high CO2 conditions

Lilley, J.M. and Bolger, T.P. and Peoples, M.B. and Gifford, R.M. (2001) Nutritive value and the nitrogen dynamics of Trifolium subterraneum and Phalaris aquatica under warmer, high CO2 conditions. New Phytologist, 150 (2). pp. 385-395.

[img]
Preview
 PDF
| Preview

Abstract

Summary • Will changes in nutritive values and N-relations offset initial gains in forage productivity under potential climate change observed for grass–legume pastures of south-eastern Australia? • Herbage nutritive value and symbiotic nitrogen fixation were investigated for pure and mixed swards of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum ) and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica ) in field tunnels at ambient and 690 µmol mol<sup>-1</sup> CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations and at ambient and warmed (+3.4°C) air temperatures. • Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> increased the nonstructural carbohydrate content of herbage whereas warming tended to decrease it. These effects were mainly on soluble carbohydrates in phalaris and starch in clover herbage. The N concentration of both species was decreased by elevated CO<sub>2</sub> but unaffected by warming. The proportion of clover-N derived from N<sub>2</sub> fixation was increased by 12% under elevated CO<sub>2</sub> but decreased by 6% under warming. • Concurrent warming and high-CO<sub>2</sub> conditions are expected to lead to improved herbage nutritive value for ruminants due to increased nonstructural soluble carbohydrate content. Longer term effects on nutritive value and N-dynamics via species persistence and competition require further study

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: carbohydrate, carbon dioxide, climate change, nitrogen fixation, nutritive value, phalaris (Phalaris aquatica), subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), temperature
Author Affiliation: CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
Subjects: Atmosperic Science
Divisions: General
Depositing User: Ms K Syamalamba
Date Deposited: 13 Feb 2012 09:04
Last Modified: 13 Feb 2012 09:04
Official URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1469-...
URI: http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/3044

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
EPrints Logo
eprints is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.