Does photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO₂ increase photosynthetic nitrogen‐use efficiency? A study of three native UK grassland species in open‐top chambers

Abstract

1. The photosynthetic response to elevated CO 2 and nutrient stress was investigated in Agrostis capillaris, Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens grown in an open‐top chamber facility for 2 years under two nutrient regimes. Acclimation was evaluated by measuring the response of light‐saturated photosynthesis to changes in the substomatal CO 2 concentration. 2. Growth at elevated CO 2 resulted in reductions in apparent Rubisco activity in vivo in all three species, which were associated with reductions of total leaf nitrogen content on a unit area basis for A. capillaris and L. perenne . Despite this acclimation, photosynthesis was significantly higher at elevated CO 2 for T. repens and A. capillaris , the latter exhibiting the greatest increase of carbon uptake at the lowest nutrient supply. 3. The photosynthetic nitrogen‐use efficiency (the rate of carbon assimilation per unit leaf nitrogen) increased at elevated CO 2 , not purely owing to higher values of photosynthesis at elevated CO 2 , but also as a result of lower leaf nitrogen contents. 4. Contrary to most previous studies, this investigation indicates that elevated CO 2 can stimulate photosynthesis under a severely limited nutrient supply. Changes in photosynthetic nitrogen‐use efficiency may be a critical determinant of competition within low nutrient ecosystems and low input agricultural systems.