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Reduced CO2 fertilization effect in temperate C3 grasslands under more extreme weather conditions

Nature Climate Change volume 7, pages 137–141 (2017)Cite this article

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Abstract

The increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations from anthropogenic activities is the major driver of recent global climate change1. The stimulation of plant photosynthesis due to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations ([CO2]) is widely assumed to increase the net primary productivity (NPP) of C3 plants—the CO2 fertilization effect (CFE)1,2,3,4,5,6,7. However, the magnitude and persistence of the CFE under future climates, including more frequent weather extremes, are controversial1,2,3,8,9,10,11,12. Here we use data from 16 years of temperate grassland grown under ‘free-air carbon dioxide enrichment’ conditions to show that the CFE on above-ground biomass is strongest under local average environmental conditions. The observed CFE was reduced or disappeared under wetter, drier and/or hotter conditions when the forcing variable exceeded its intermediate regime. This is in contrast to predictions of an increased CO2 fertilization effect under drier and warmer conditions13. Such extreme weather conditions are projected to occur more intensely and frequently under future climate scenarios1. Consequently, current biogeochemical models might overestimate the future NPP sink capacity of temperate C3 grasslands and hence underestimate future atmospheric [CO2] increase.

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Figure 1: Dependence of the CO2 fertilization effect (CFE) on drought-related variables.
Figure 2: Dependence of the CO2 fertilization effect (CFE) on heat-related variables.
Figure 3: Synopsis of the CO2 fertilization effect dependent on different environmental conditions during the three months preceding the harvest.

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Acknowledgements

The contribution of the following individuals to the initiation, construction, installation and long-term, ongoing maintenance of the Giessen FACE experiment is gratefully acknowledged: H.-J. Jäger (deceased 2013), S. Schmidt, J. Senkbeil, W. Stein, B. Lenz, J. Franz, T. Strohbusch, G. Mayer and A. Brück. The continued financial support of the Hessian Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology is gratefully acknowledged since it allowed an exceptionally long data set to be obtained. This research has been funded by the LOEWE excellence cluster FACE2FACE of the Hessian State Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Geography, Laboratory for Climatology and Remote Sensing, Philipps-University of Marburg, Deutschhausstr. 10, 35032 Marburg, Germany

    W. A. Obermeier, L. W. Lehnert & J. Bendix

  2. Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, WG Climate Change Research for Special Crops, Hochschule Geisenheim University, Von-Lade Str. 1, 65366 Geisenheim, Germany

    C. I. Kammann

  3. Department of Plant Ecology, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany

    C. Müller, L. Grünhage, M. Erbs, G. Moser & R. Seibert

  4. School of Biology and Environmental Science and Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland

    C. Müller

  5. Department of Geography, Climatology, Climate Dynamics and Climate Change, Justus Liebig University, Senckenbergstr. 1, 35390 Giessen, Germany

    J. Luterbacher & N. Yuan

  6. Centre for International Development and Environmental Research, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Senckenbergstrasse 3, 35390 Giessen, Germany

    J. Luterbacher

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  1. W. A. Obermeier
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Contributions

The statistical analysis was designed and implemented by W.A.O., L.W.L. and J.B.; all authors contributed to the interpretation of the results and the writing of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to W. A. Obermeier.

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Obermeier, W., Lehnert, L., Kammann, C. et al. Reduced CO2 fertilization effect in temperate C3 grasslands under more extreme weather conditions. Nature Clim Change 7, 137–141 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate3191

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