Publication Date

1997

Description

Pure and mixed swards of Phalaris aquatica and Trifolium subterraneum were exposed to cool (ambient) and warm (cool +3oC) temperatures, at both 380 and 690 ppm CO2 concentrations in field temperature gradient tunnels for 5 months. In general, clover and the mixture had similar forage productivity in each treatment, while phalaris was less productive. Elevated CO2 increased clover production 40% in the monoculture and the mixture. Higher temperatures reduced clover regrowth at ambient CO2 and reduced the response to elevated CO2 in the monoculture but not in the mixture. In contrast, phalaris regrowth in the monoculture was not increased by elevated CO2 or higher temperature, while the combination of these increased production 31%. In the mixture, phalaris growth increased by 65 and 93%, respectively, in response to elevated CO2 and higher temperature, but less (31%) with both together. Clover dominated the mixture. However, at warm temperature and ambient CO2, clover growth was poor and phalaris growth increased so that total productivity of the mixture was unaffected.

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CO2 Enrichment and Temperature Effects on Productivity of Field-Grown Phalaris and Subterranean Clover

Pure and mixed swards of Phalaris aquatica and Trifolium subterraneum were exposed to cool (ambient) and warm (cool +3oC) temperatures, at both 380 and 690 ppm CO2 concentrations in field temperature gradient tunnels for 5 months. In general, clover and the mixture had similar forage productivity in each treatment, while phalaris was less productive. Elevated CO2 increased clover production 40% in the monoculture and the mixture. Higher temperatures reduced clover regrowth at ambient CO2 and reduced the response to elevated CO2 in the monoculture but not in the mixture. In contrast, phalaris regrowth in the monoculture was not increased by elevated CO2 or higher temperature, while the combination of these increased production 31%. In the mixture, phalaris growth increased by 65 and 93%, respectively, in response to elevated CO2 and higher temperature, but less (31%) with both together. Clover dominated the mixture. However, at warm temperature and ambient CO2, clover growth was poor and phalaris growth increased so that total productivity of the mixture was unaffected.