Journal article

Does phosphorus stimulate the effect of elevated [CO 2] on growth and symbiotic nitrogen fixation of grain and pasture legumes?

SK Lam, D Chen, R Norton, R Armstrong

Crop and Pasture Science | Published : 2012

Abstract

The effect of elevated [CO 2] (700mol/mol) and phosphorus (P) supply on the growth and symbiotic N2 fixation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.) were investigated in the glasshouse. The effect of elevated [CO 2] on the growth and N2 fixation at various growth stages of the chickpea and field pea plants (grown on a Vertosol) were also examined. Elevated [CO 2] generally increased the aboveground biomass of chickpea (by 18-64%), field pea (by 24-57%) and barrel medic (by 49-82%), but the effect was greater when P was non-limiting. Elevated [CO 2] only stimulated grain yield of chickpea (by 70%) and field pea (by 21%) if ..

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Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation, the Australian Research Council, the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and The University of Melbourne. The authors wish to thank Dr Saman Seneweera for establishment and management of CO<INF>2</INF> chambers, Mr Garry Wilde and Mr Peter Howie for field assistance, Dr Tony Leonforte and Mr Roger Perris for seed supply, and Mr Jianlei Sun, Dr Tony Weatherley and Dr Xing Chen for chemical analyses.