Ecological, Physiological and Genetic Aspects of Global Climate Change Impacts in Field Crop Systems

Project No. 6645-11000-00600D

2005 - 2010

NP 203 Air Quality & NP 204 Global Change

Investigators                                                                        Research Technicians

Kent O. Burkey, Ph.D., Lead Scientist                            Renee Tucker

Fitzgerald L. Booker, Ph.D.                                          Jeff Barton

Edwin L. Fiscus, Ph.D.                                                Erin Silva                         

                                                                             Mike Durham

Research Associates                                                           Engineering and Cat. III Support

Jean-Jacques Dubois, Ph.D.                                         Robert Philbeck

Patrick Morgan, Ph.D.                                                 Walter Pursley

Project Summary

• Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are increasing steadily with a predicted doubling in this century.

• Current ground-level ozone concentrations are sufficient to suppress crop yields in many agricultural areas with ozone concentrations predicted to remain at phytotoxic levels or increase (see Ozone Pollution Effects on Plants).  Examples of ozone injury in crops and trees. 

• Atmospheric temperature is also projected to rise in tandem with increased greenhouse gases.

U.S. Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station                Keeling and Whorf (2004) CDIAC

Project Rationale

• The impact of these combined factors on crop productivity and soil carbon (C) dynamics can not be predicted with confidence because little is known about the interactive effects of these factors on cropping systems and the role of plant genetic variation in crop response.

• Greater knowledge of such interactions is essential to project and develop mitigation strategies for adverse effects of global change on agroecosystems.

Project Objectives

• Quantify the combined effects of elevated carbon dioxide and ozone concentrations on soil C dynamics in a soybean-wheat field crop system.

• Quantify the effects of temperature on the physiology, biomass production and seed yield of selected crop plants under conditions of elevated carbon dioxide and ozone, singly and in combination.

• Identify soybean germplasm with enhanced growth and yield potential under elevated levels of carbon dioxide and ozone, and determine the underlying mechanisms and associated genes that control plant responses to these gases.

• Research will be conducted using field and greenhouse chambers for control of gas concentrations and temperature.