Modelling daily net canopy photosynthesis and its adaptation to irradiance and atmospheric CO2 concentration

Abstract A model to calculate the daily rate of net canopy photosynthesis in response to irradiance and atmospheric CO2, incorporating adaptation to growth conditions, is presented. Adaptation is treated by assuming that the plant protein nitrogen content varies so as to maximize daily net photosynthesis through its effect on gross photosynthesis and respiratory losses. Net photosynthesis is calculated using daily mean direct solar and diffusesky radiation components, estimated from total daily solar radiation. The behaviour of the model is consistent with patterns observed in the literature. For maximum net canopy photosynthesis, nitrogen levels in C4 plants are predicted to be significantly lower than for C3. Large changes in single-leaf photosynthetic capacity may not translate into large variation in net canopy photosynthesis. The optimum protein nitrogen level is predicted to decrease with increasing atmospheric CO2. The model implies that the long-term optimum value of the maximum rate of leaf gross photosynthesis will be less than that observed in the short term, and that maintenance respiration will decline in the long term, due to a decrease in the optimum level of plant protein nitrogen at higher CO2 levels. The approach presented is simple enough to be readily incorporated into crop, pasture and ecosystem models, while allowing for representation of several important physiological responses.

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