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- Title
Nutritive value and the nitrogen dynamics of Trifolium subterraneum and Phalaris aquatica under warmer, high CO<sub>2</sub> conditions.
- Authors
Lilley, J. M; Bolger, T. P; Peoples, M. B; Gifford, R. M
- Abstract
Summary • Will changes in nutritive values and N-relations offset initial gains in forage productivity under potential climate change observed for grass–legume pastures of south-eastern Australia? • Herbage nutritive value and symbiotic nitrogen fixation were investigated for pure and mixed swards of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum ) and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica ) in field tunnels at ambient and 690 µmol mol-1 CO2 concentrations and at ambient and warmed (+3.4°C) air temperatures. • Elevated CO2 increased the nonstructural carbohydrate content of herbage whereas warming tended to decrease it. These effects were mainly on soluble carbohydrates in phalaris and starch in clover herbage. The N concentration of both species was decreased by elevated CO2 but unaffected by warming. The proportion of clover-N derived from N2 fixation was increased by 12% under elevated CO2 but decreased by 6% under warming. • Concurrent warming and high-CO2 conditions are expected to lead to improved herbage nutritive value for ruminants due to increased nonstructural soluble carbohydrate content. Longer term effects on nutritive value and N-dynamics via species persistence and competition require further study.
- Subjects
CANBERRA (A.C.T.); AUSTRALIA; AUSTRALIAN Capital Territory; LEGUMES; CROPS; NITROGEN; SUBTERRANEAN clover; CARBON dioxide
- Publication
New Phytologist, 2001, Vol 150, Issue 2, p385
- ISSN
0028-646X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00101.x