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ARS Home » Plains Area » Temple, Texas » Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #294754
Title: Genotypic variation in traits controlling carbon flux responses to precipitation in switchgrass

Author
item Fay, Philip
item REICHMANN, LARA - University Of Texas
item ASPINWALL, MIKE - Western Sydney University
item Polley, Herbert
item Gibson, Anne
item KHASANOVA, ALBINA - University Of Texas
item WHITAKER, BRIANA - University Of Texas
item LOWRY, DAVID - University Of Texas
item TAYLOR, SAM - University Of Texas
item HAWKES, CHRISTINE - University Of Texas
item Kiniry, James
item JUENGER, TOM - University Of Texas

Submitted to: Ecological Society of America Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/31/2013
Publication Date: 8/4/2013
Citation: Fay, P.A., Reichmann, L., Aspinwall, M., Polley, H.W., Gibson, A.E., Khasanova, A., Whitaker, B., Lowry, D., Taylor, S., Hawkes, C., Kiniry, J.R., Juenger, T. 2013. Genotypic variation in traits controlling carbon flux responses to precipitation in switchgrass. In: Proceedings of the Ecological Society of America, August 4-9, 2013, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 2013 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Background/Questions/Methods Fluxes of carbon in terrestrial ecosystems are key indicators of their productivity and carbon storage potential. Ecosystem fluxes will be impacted by climate change, especially changes in rainfall amount. Fluxes may also be affected by plant traits, including aboveground biomass (AGB), leaf photosynthesis (ACO2), leaf area index (LAI), leaf nitrogen (N) and chlorophyll (Chl) contents. Plant traits differ among genotypes adapted to different climate regimes, hence ecosystem fluxes may differ among genotypes. Here we demonstrate genotypic variation in trait-based control of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) in the native C4 tallgrass species Panicum virgatum L. (switchgrass), a widespread, dominant component of tallgrass prairie, and a potential bioenergy crop. Nine genotypes of P. virgatum originating from 27 to 35° N latitude were established under a rainfall exclusion shelter in central Texas, USA. The genotypes received rainfall treatments representing dry, average and wet years in a randomized complete blocks design. NEE [and its components, gross primary production (GPP), ecosystem respiration (Re)], plant traits, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were measured during rapid tiller growth (June) and near peak growth (August), and AGB was measured at the end of the growing season. Results/Conclusions NEE increased 22-83% with increasing rainfall (0.003