Journal article
Elevated CO2 in semi-arid cropping systems: A synthesis of research from the Australian Grains Free Air CO2 Enrichment (AGFACE) research program
GJ Fitzgerald, M Tausz, R Armstrong, J Panozzo, P Trębicki, M Mollah, S Tausz-Posch, C Walker, JG Nuttall, M Bourgault, M Löw, D Partington, CR Butterly, SK Lam, RM Norton, GJ O'Leary
Advances in Agronomy | Published : 2022
Abstract
Climate change impacts to crop production are likely to be greatest in semi-arid regions already constrained by marginal growing conditions. The response of temperate grain crops (wheat, field pea and lentil) to elevated CO2 (eCO2) (550 μmol mol− 1) under semi-arid field conditions was studied over 11 years in the Australian Grains Free Air CO2 Enrichment (AGFACE) research program. This review synthesizes key outcomes and implications for crop adaptation in a semi-arid environment. Across all crops and environments, eCO2 increased mean yields (16–58%) compared to current ambient (aCO2) concentrations. Wheat yields increased by 18% and 29% under rainfed and supplemental irrigation, respective..
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Funding Acknowledgements
Research in the AGFACE program was a collaboration between Agriculture Victoria and The University of Melbourne. Major research support was provided by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Agriculture Victoria, The University of Melbourne, the Australian Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Australian Research Council. Student, faculty and fellowship support granted for various individuals is documented in acknowledgements in individual publications. Research support from the CSIRO was provided in early years of the program. We wish to acknowledge the crucial contributions of Russel Argall, Mel Munn and technical staff in running and maintaining the AGFACE facility, collecting key measurements and sample processing during the 11-year program. We also thank Jason Brand, Sukumar Chakraborty, Wendy Griffiths, Jo Luck, David McNeil, Ivan Mock, Anwar Muhuddin, Marc Nicolas, Penny Riffkin, Saman Seneweera and Alan Yen who contributed to the research. The input of many students and collaborating scientists from The University of Melbourne, University of Queensland, University of Western Sydney, La Trobe University, Monash University, University of Illinois and USDA-ARS added greatly to the knowledge generated. We gratefully acknowledge the input of international colleagues and students from other FACE facilities and the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) consortium and collaborations. Eva Carreras Navarro organized and verified the citations. A complete list of AGFACE publications at the time of publication is presented in Appendix C.