N2O emissions from plants are reduced under photosynthetic activity

Abstract

• New plant functions in the exchange of greenhouse gases between ecosystems and atmosphere have recently been discovered. We tested whether photosynthetic activity has an effect on N₂O emission rates from incubated plant–soil systems.
• Two laboratory experiments were performed. One to unravel possible effect of photosynthetic activity on the net N₂O ecosystem exchange for two species (beech and ash saplings). The other to account for possible effects from rhizosphere and aboveground plant parts separately (ash sapling only).
• Total N₂O emissions from both plant and plant–soil systems were significantly lower under light than in darkness (31%–65%). The photosynthetic effect only applied to the aboveground plant parts.
• Underlying processes have now to be unraveled to improve our understanding of ecosystem functioning. This will improve modeling and budgeting of greenhouse gas exchanges between ecosystems and the atmosphere.

Published in

Plant-Environment Interactions
2020, Volume: 1, number: 1, pages: 48-56

SLU Authors

• Meurer, Katharina

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Koblenz-Landau

UKÄ Subject classification

Climate Research


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pei3.10015

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/108845