ARS | Publication request: EASTERN GAMAGRASS GROWN IN SUNLIT CONTROLLED-ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMBERS AT TWO LEVELS OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND THREE TEMPERATURES

Submitted to: Eastern Native Grass Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 15, 2002
Publication Date: October 21, 2004
Citation: Ritchie, J.C., Gitz, D.C., Krizek, D.T., Reddy, V. 2004. Eastern gamagrass grown in sunlit controlled-environmental chambers at two levels of carbon dioxide and three temperatures. In: J.Randal and J.C. Burns, editors, Proceedings of the Third Eastern Native Grass Symposium, The North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC, Oct. 1-3, 2002. Omnipress, Madison, WI. p. 308.

Technical Abstract: Eastern gamagrass [Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.] was grown in six Soil Plant Atmosphere Research (SPAR) sunlit controlled-environmental chambers (0.5 x 2 m, 16 plants per chamber) at two levels of carbon dioxide (370 and 740 ppm) and three temperatures (20/14, 27.5/21.5, and 35/29 C day/night) for 20 weeks (mid-May to mid-October 2001). Shoots (tillers taller than 10 cm) were harvested at 10 and 15 weeks and total plants (roots, crowns, shoots) were harvested at 20 weeks. Biomass of shoots, crowns, and roots increased significantly with increased temperature. Biomass was consistently higher in chambers with increased carbon dioxide. Biomass allocation differed with treatment with percent roots by weight being highest with high carbon dioxide and low temperature treatment. Percent roots by weight decreased with increasing temperature. Our results suggest little effect on growth for a single growing season at increased carbon dioxide. However the consistently higher biomass at higher carbon dioxide treatments suggests the potential for cumulative effects over time.