Growth, Biomass Allocation and Foliar Nutrient Contents of Two Eucalyptus Species of the Wet-Dry Tropics of Australia Grown Under CO 2 Enrichment

Abstract

Seeds of Eucalyptus tetrodonta and E. miniata were sown in duplicated air-conditioned tents which were ventilated with either ambient or CO 2 -enriched (700 μmol mol −1 ) air. Growth, foliar nutrient content, soluble protein and biomass allocation were investigated over the subsequent 32-week experimental period. It was found that CO 2 enrichment significantly increased the total biomass and tree height of E. tetrodonta, but had no effect on total biomass or tree height of E. miniata. Allocation of biomass to main-stem wood and main-stem leaf mass increased and allocation to branch wood and branch leaves declined, under CO 2 enrichment for E. tetrodonta. No change in allocation patterns for E. miniata was observed in response to CO 2 enrichment