Constraints to nitrogen acquisition of terrestrial plants under elevated CO2

A key part of the uncertainty in terrestrial feedbacks on climate change is related to how and to what extent nitrogen (N) availability constrains the stimulation of terrestrial productivity by elevated CO₂ (eCO₂), and whether or not this constraint will become stronger over time. We explored the ecosystem‐scale relationship between responses of plant productivity and N acquisition to eCO₂ in free‐air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiments in grassland, cropland and forest ecosystems and found that: (i) in all three ecosystem types, this relationship was positive, linear and strong (r² = 0.68), but exhibited a negative intercept such that plant N acquisition was decreased by 10% when eCO₂ caused neutral or modest changes in productivity. As the ecosystems were markedly N limited, plants with minimal productivity responses to eCO₂ likely acquired less N than ambient CO₂‐grown counterparts because access was decreased, and not because demand was lower. (ii) Plant N concentration was lower under eCO₂, and this decrease was independent of the presence or magnitude of eCO₂‐induced productivity enhancement, refuting the long‐held hypothesis that this effect results from growth dilution. (iii) Effects of eCO₂ on productivity and N acquisition did not diminish over time, while the typical eCO₂‐induced decrease in plant N concentration did. Our results suggest that, at the decennial timescale covered by FACE studies, N limitation of eCO₂‐induced terrestrial productivity enhancement is associated with negative effects of eCO₂ on plant N acquisition rather than with growth dilution of plant N or processes leading to progressive N limitation.     

Strong photosynthetic acclimation and enhanced water‐use efficiency in grassland functional groups persist over 21 years of CO2 enrichment,independent of nitrogen supply

Uncertainty about long‐term leaf‐level responses to atmospheric CO₂ rise is a major knowledge gap that exists because of limited empirical data. Thus, it remains unclear how responses of leaf gas exchange to elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) vary among plant species and functional groups, or across different levels of nutrient supply, and whether they persist over time for long‐lived perennials. Here, we report the effects of eCO₂ on rates of net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance in 14 perennial grassland species from four functional groups over two decades in a Minnesota Free‐Air CO₂ Enrichment experiment, BioCON. Monocultures of species belonging to C₃ grasses, C₄ grasses, forbs, and legumes were exposed to two levels of CO₂ and nitrogen supply in factorial combinations over 21 years. eCO₂ increased photosynthesis by 12.9% on average in C₃ species, substantially less than model predictions of instantaneous responses based on physiological theory and results of other studies, even those spanning multiple years. Acclimation of photosynthesis to eCO₂ was observed beginning in the first year and did not strengthen through time. Yet, contrary to expectations, the response of photosynthesis to eCO₂ was not enhanced by increased nitrogen supply. Differences in responses among herbaceous plant functional groups were modest, with legumes responding the most and C₄ grasses the least as expected, but did not further diverge over time. Leaf‐level water‐use efficiency increased by 50% under eCO₂ primarily because of reduced stomatal conductance. Our results imply that enhanced nitrogen supply will not necessarily diminish photosynthetic acclimation to eCO₂ in nitrogen‐limited systems, and that significant and consistent declines in stomatal conductance and increases in water‐use efficiency under eCO₂ may allow plants to better withstand drought.     

An estimate of greenhouse gas (N2O and CO2) mitigation potential under various scenarios of nitrogen use efficiency in Chinese croplands

It is well recognized that improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) can directly reduce nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission in cropland and indirectly reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) release from nitrogen (N) production, while such a reduction has not been well quantified in China. We estimated the greenhouse gas (GHG; N₂O and CO₂) mitigation potential (MP) from Chinese cropland and its regional distribution by quantifying NUE and determining the amount of over‐applied synthetic N under various scenarios of NUE. We estimated that synthetic NUE in the late 1990s was 31±11% (mean±SD) for rice, 33±13% for wheat, and 31±11% for maize cultivation. Improving NUE to 50% could cut 6.6 Tg of synthetic N use per year, accounting for 41% of the total used. As a result of this reduction, the direct N₂O emission from croplands together with CO₂ emission from the industrial production and transport of synthetic N could be reduced by 39%, equivalent to 60 Tg CO₂ yr^?1. The MP was probably underestimated because organic N supply was not taken into account when estimating NUE. It was concluded that improving N management can greatly reduce GHG (N₂O and CO₂) emissions in Chinese croplands, and mitigation in the Jiangsu, Henan, Shandong, Sichuan, Hubei, Anhui, and Hebei provinces should be given priority.     

Alteration of forest succession and carbon cycling under elevated CO2

Regenerating forests influence the global carbon (C) cycle, and understanding how climate change will affect patterns of regeneration and C storage is necessary to predict the rate of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) increase in future decades. While experimental elevation of CO₂ has revealed that young forests respond with increased productivity, there remains considerable uncertainty as to how the long‐term dynamics of forest regrowth are shaped by elevated CO₂ (eCO₂). Here, we use the mechanistic size‐ and age‐ structured Ecosystem Demography model to investigate the effects of CO₂ enrichment on forest regeneration, using data from the Duke Forest Free‐Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment (FACE) experiment, a forest chronosequence, and an eddy‐covariance tower for model parameterization and evaluation. We find that the dynamics of forest regeneration are accelerated, and stands consistently hit a variety of developmental benchmarks earlier under eCO₂. Because responses to eCO₂ varied by plant functional type, successional pathways, and mature forest composition differed under eCO₂, with mid‐ and late‐successional hardwood functional types experiencing greater increases in biomass compared to early‐successional functional types and the pine canopy. Over the simulation period, eCO₂ led to an increase in total ecosystem C storage of 9.7 Mg C ha^‐1. Model predictions of mature forest biomass and ecosystem–atmosphere exchange of CO₂ and H₂O were sensitive to assumptions about nitrogen limitation; both the magnitude and persistence of the ecosystem response to eCO₂ were reduced under N limitation. In summary, our simulations demonstrate that eCO₂ can result in a general acceleration of forest regeneration while altering the course of successional change and having a lasting impact on forest ecosystems.     

Isotopic evidence for increased carbon and nitrogen exchanges between peatland plants and their symbiotic microbes with rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations since 15,000 cal. year BP

Whether nitrogen (N) availability will limit plant growth and removal of atmospheric CO₂ by the terrestrial biosphere this century is controversial. Studies have suggested that N could progressively limit plant growth, as trees and soils accumulate N in slowly cycling biomass pools in response to increases in carbon sequestration. However, a question remains over whether longer-term (decadal to century) feedbacks between climate, CO₂ and plant N uptake could emerge to reduce ecosystem-level N limitations. The symbioses between plants and microbes can help plants to acquire N from the soil or from the atmosphere via biological N₂ fixation—the pathway through which N can be rapidly brought into ecosystems and thereby partially or completely alleviate N limitation on plant productivity. Here we present measurements of plant N isotope composition (δ¹⁵N) in a peat core that dates to 15,000 cal. year BP to ascertain ecosystem-level N cycling responses to rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. We find that pre-industrial increases in global atmospheric CO₂ concentrations corresponded with a decrease in the δ¹⁵N of both Sphagnum moss and Ericaceae when constrained for climatic factors. A modern experiment demonstrates that the δ¹⁵N of Sphagnum decreases with increasing N₂-fixation rates. These findings suggest that plant-microbe symbioses that facilitate N acquisition are, over the long term, enhanced under rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, highlighting an ecosystem-level feedback mechanism whereby N constraints on terrestrial carbon storage can be overcome.     

The combined effect of constant water deficit and nitrogen supply on WUE, NUE and Δ13C in durum wheat potted plants

Water scarcity and nitrogen shortage are the main constraints on durum wheat productivity. This paper examines the combined effects of a constant water deficit and nitrogen supply (NS) on growth, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance (g_s) and transpiration, instantaneous and time‐integrated water use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and carbon isotope discrimination (Δ¹³C) in durum wheat genotypes grown in pots under greenhouse conditions. Three water levels (40%, 70% and 100% container capacity), two nitrogen doses (high and low N) and four genotypes were assayed in a total of 24 experimental treatments. Water and nitrogen treatments were imposed 2 weeks after plant emergence. The growth, nitrogen content and Δ¹³C of the shoot and the gas exchange in the flag leaf were determined about 2 weeks after anthesis. As expected, both water and NS had a strong positive effect on growth. However, a reduction in water supply had low effect decreasing photosynthesis and transpiration, Δ¹³C and NUE and increasing WUE. On the contrary, increasing the level of nitrogen supplied had a significant negative effect on g_s, which decreased significantly the ratio of intercellular to ambient CO₂ concentrations and Δ¹³C, and increased both instantaneous and time‐integrated WUE. In addition, a higher N level also negatively affected the instantaneous and time‐integrated NUE. The Δ¹³C of shoots correlated significantly and negatively with either instantaneous or time‐integrated measurements of WUE. Moreover, within each NS, Δ¹³C also correlated negatively with the integrated NUE. We concluded that under our experimental conditions, Δ¹³C gives information about the efficiency with which not just water but also nitrogen are used by the plant. In addition, this study illustrates that a steady water limitation may strongly affect biomass without consistent changes in WUE. The lack of effect of the different water regimes on gas exchange, WUE and Δ¹³C illustrate the importance of how stress is imposed during growth.     

Response of wheat growth,grain yield and water use to elevated CO2 under a Free‐Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiment and modelling in a semi‐arid environment

The response of wheat crops to elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) was measured and modelled with the Australian Grains Free‐Air CO₂ Enrichment experiment, located at Horsham, Australia. Treatments included CO₂ by water, N and temperature. The location represents a semi‐arid environment with a seasonal VPD of around 0.5 kPa. Over 3 years, the observed mean biomass at anthesis and grain yield ranged from 4200 to 10 200 kg ha^?1 and 1600 to 3900 kg ha^?1, respectively, over various sowing times and irrigation regimes. The mean observed response to daytime eCO₂ (from 365 to 550 μmol mol^?1 CO₂) was relatively consistent for biomass at stem elongation and at anthesis and LAI at anthesis and grain yield with 21%, 23%, 21% and 26%, respectively. Seasonal water use was decreased from 320 to 301 mm (P = 0.10) by eCO₂, increasing water use efficiency for biomass and yield, 36% and 31%, respectively. The performance of six models (APSIM‐Wheat, APSIM‐Nwheat, CAT‐Wheat, CROPSYST, OLEARY‐CONNOR and SALUS) in simulating crop responses to eCO₂ was similar and within or close to the experimental error for accumulated biomass, yield and water use response, despite some variations in early growth and LAI. The primary mechanism of biomass accumulation via radiation use efficiency (RUE) or transpiration efficiency (TE) was not critical to define the overall response to eCO₂. However, under irrigation, the effect of late sowing on response to eCO₂ to biomass accumulation at DC65 was substantial in the observed data (~40%), but the simulated response was smaller, ranging from 17% to 28%. Simulated response from all six models under no water or nitrogen stress showed similar response to eCO₂ under irrigation, but the differences compared to the dryland treatment were small. Further experimental work on the interactive effects of eCO₂, water and temperature is required to resolve these model discrepancies.     

Effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment, water status and applied nitrogen on water- and nitrogen-use efficiencies of wheat

Atmospheric CO₂ levels are expected to exceed 700 mol mol^–1 by the end of the 21st century. The influence of increased CO₂ concentration on crop plants is of major concern. This study investigated water- and nitrogen-use efficiency (WUE and NUE, respectively, were defined by the amount of biomass accumulated per unit water or N uptake) of spring wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) grown under two atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (350 and 700 mol mol^–1), two soil moisture treatments (well-watered and drought) and five nitrogen amendment treatments. Results showed that enriched CO₂ concentration increased canopy WUE, and more N supply led to higher WUE under the increased CO₂. Canopy WUE was significantly lower in well-watered treatments than in drought treatment, but increased with the increased N supply. Elevated CO₂ reduced the apparent recovery fraction of applied N by the plant root system (N_r, defined as the ratio of the increased N uptake to N applied), but increased the NUE and agronomic N efficiency (NAE, defined as the ratio of the increased biomass to N applied). Water limitation and high N application reduced the N_r, NUE and NAE, indicating a poor N efficiency. In addition, there was a close relationship between the root mass ratio and NUE. Canopy WUE was negatively related to the root mass ratio and NUE. Our results indicated that CO₂ enrichment enhanced WUE more at high N application, but increased NUE more when N application was less.     

Understorey productivity in temperate grassy woodland responds to soil water availability but not to elevated [CO2]

Rising atmospheric [CO₂] and associated climate change are expected to modify primary productivity across a range of ecosystems globally. Increasing aridity is predicted to reduce grassland productivity, although rising [CO₂] and associated increases in plant water use efficiency may partially offset the effect of drying on growth. Difficulties arise in predicting the direction and magnitude of future changes in ecosystem productivity, due to limited field experimentation investigating climate and CO₂ interactions. We use repeat near‐surface digital photography to quantify the effects of water availability and experimentally manipulated elevated [CO₂] (eCO₂) on understorey live foliage cover and biomass over three growing seasons in a temperate grassy woodland in south‐eastern Australia. We hypothesised that (i) understorey herbaceous productivity is dependent upon soil water availability, and (ii) that eCO₂ will increase productivity, with greatest stimulation occurring under conditions of low water availability. Soil volumetric water content (VWC) determined foliage cover and growth rates over the length of the growing season (August to March), with low VWC (<0.1 m³ m^?3) reducing productivity. However, eCO₂ did not increase herbaceous cover and biomass over the duration of the experiment, or mitigate the effects of low water availability on understorey growth rates and cover. Our findings suggest that projected increases in aridity in temperate woodlands are likely to lead to reduced understorey productivity, with little scope for eCO₂ to offset these changes.     

The Effect of CO2 Enrichment on the Growth of Nodulated and Non-Nodulated Isogenic Types of Soybean Raised Under Two Nitrogen Concentrations

To find the effects of CO₂ enrichment on plant development and photosynthetic capacity of nodulated (line A62-1) and non-nodulated (line A62-2) isogenic lines of soybean (Glycine max Merr.), we examined the interactions among two CO₂ treatments (36±3 Pa = AC and 70±5 Pa = EC), and two nitrogen concentrations [0 g(N) m⁻²(land area) = 0N; 30 g(N) m⁻²(land area) = 30N]. Nodules were found in both CO₂ treatments in 0N of A62-1 where the number and dry mass of nodules increased from AC to EC. While the allocation of dry mass to root and shoot and the amount of N in each organ did not differ between the growth CO₂ concentrations, there was larger N allocation to roots in 0N than in 30N for A62-2. The CO₂-dependence of net photosynthetic rate (P _N) for A62-1 was unaffected by both CO₂ and N treatments. In contrast, the CO₂-dependence of P _N was lower in 0N than in 30N for A62-2, but it was independent of CO₂ treatment. P _N per unit N content was unaffected by CO₂ concentrations. The leaf area of both soybean lines grown in 30N increased in EC. But in 0N, only the nodulated A62-1 showed an increase in leaf area in EC. Nitrogen use efficiency of plants, NUE [(total dry mass of the plant)/(amount of N accumulated in the plant)] in 30N was unaffected by CO₂ treatments. In 0N, NUE in EC was lower than in AC in A62-1, and was higher than that at AC in A62-2. Hence, the larger amount and/or rate of N fixation with the increase of the sink-size of symbiotic microorganisms supplied adequate N to the plant under EC. In EC, N deficiency caused the down-regulation of the soybean plant. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Elevated CO2 levels enhance the uptake and metabolism of organic nitrogen

The effects of elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) on the relative uptake of inorganic and organic nitrogen (N) are unclear. The uptake of different N sources by pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.) seedlings supplied with a mixture of nitrate, glycine and ammonium was studied using ¹⁵N‐labelling under ambient CO₂ (aCO₂) (350 ppm) or eCO₂ (650 ppm) conditions. ¹⁵N‐labelled short‐term uptake and ¹⁵N‐gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were applied to measure the effects of eCO₂ on glycine uptake and metabolism. Elevated CO₂ increased the shoot biomass by 36% over 15 days, but had little effect on root growth. Over the same period, the N concentrations of shoots and roots were decreased by 30 and 2%, respectively. Elevated CO₂ enhanced the uptake and N contribution of glycine, which accounted for 38–44% and 21–40% of total N uptake in roots and shoots, respectively, while the uptake of nitrate and ammonium was reduced. The increased glycine uptake resulted from the enhanced active uptake and enhanced metabolism in the roots. We conclude that eCO₂ may increase the uptake and contribution of organic N forms to total plant N nutrition. Our findings provide new insights into plant N regulation under eCO₂ conditions.     

Arbuscular mycorrhiza improve growth,nitrogen uptake,and nitrogen use efficiency in wheat grown under elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Effects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Rhizophagus irregularis on plant growth, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) accumulation, and partitioning was investigated in Triticum aestivum L. plants grown under elevated CO₂ in a pot experiment. Wheat plants inoculated or not inoculated with the AM fungus were grown in two glasshouse cells with different CO₂ concentrations (400 and 700 ppm) for 10 weeks. A ¹⁵N isotope labeling technique was used to trace plant N uptake. Results showed that elevated CO₂ increased AM fungal colonization. Under CO₂ elevation, AM plants had higher C concentration and higher plant biomass than the non-AM plants. CO₂ elevation did not affect C and N partitioning in plant organs, while AM symbiosis increased C and N allocation into the roots. In addition, plant C and N accumulation, ¹⁵N recovery rate, and N use efficiency (NUE) were significantly higher in AM plants than in non-AM controls under CO₂ enrichment. It is concluded that AM symbiosis favors C and N partitioning in roots, increases C accumulation and N uptake, and leads to greater NUE in wheat plants grown at elevated CO₂.     

Soil‐ and plant‐water dynamics in a C3/C4 grassland exposed to a subambient to superambient CO2 gradient

Plants may be more sensitive to carbon dioxide (CO₂) enrichment at subambient concentrations than at superambient concentrations, but field tests are lacking. We measured soil‐water content and determined xylem pressure potentials and δ¹³C values of leaves of abundant species in a C3/C4 grassland exposed during 1997–1999 to a continuous gradient in atmospheric CO₂ spanning subambient through superambient concentrations (200–560 µmol mol^2?1). We predicted that CO₂ enrichment would lessen soil‐water depletion and increase xylem potentials more over subambient concentrations than over superambient concentrations. Because water‐use efficiency of C3 species (net assimilation/leaf conductance; A/g) typically increases as soils dry, we hypothesized that improvements in plant‐water relations at higher CO₂ would lessen positive effects of CO₂ enrichment on A/g. Depletion of soil water to 1.35 m depth was greater at low CO₂ concentrations than at higher CO₂ concentrations during a mid‐season drought in 1998 and during late‐season droughts in 1997 and 1999. During droughts each year, mid‐day xylem potentials of the dominant C4 perennial grass (Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng) and the dominant C3 perennial forb (Solanum dimidiatum Raf.) became less negative as CO₂ increased from subambient to superambient concentrations. Leaf A/g—derived from leaf δ¹³C values—was insensitive to feedbacks from CO₂ effects on soil water and plant water. Among most C3 species sampled—including annual grasses, perennial grasses and perennial forbs—A/g increased linearly with CO₂ across subambient concentrations. Leaf and air δ¹³C values were too unstable at superambient CO₂ concentrations to reliably determine A/g. Significant changes in soil‐ and plant‐water relations over subambient to superambient concentrations and in leaf A/g over subambient concentrations generally were not greater over low CO₂ than over higher CO₂. The continuous response of these variables to CO₂ suggests that atmospheric change has already improved water relations of grassland species and that periodically water‐limited grasslands will remain sensitive to CO₂ enrichment.     

The effects of nitrogen stress on the stable carbon isotope composition, productivity and water use efficiency of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings

A, assimilation rate
a, fractionation against ¹³C for CO₂ diffusion through air
b, net fractionation against ¹³C during CO₂ fixation
C_a, ambient CO₂ concentration
C_c, CO₂ concentration at the chloroplast
C_i, intercellular CO₂ concentration
D, vapour pressure deficit
E_n, needle transpiration rate
E_p, whole plant water use
g_w, leaf internal transfer conductance to CO₂
g_s, stomatal conductance to water vapour
L, projected leaf area
NUE, nitrogen use efficiency
PEP, phosphoenolpyruvate
Rubisco, ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase
TDR, time domain reflectometry
WUE, water use efficiency
Δ, carbon isotope discrimination
δ¹³C, carbon isotope abundance parameter
δ¹³C_a, carbon isotopic composition of atmospheric CO₂
θ, volumetric soil water content

The effect of nitrogen stress on needle δ¹³C, water-use efficiency (WUE) and biomass production in irrigated and dry land white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings was investigated. Sixteen hundred seedlings, representing 10 controlled crosses, were planted in the field in individual buried sand-filled cylinders. Two nitrogen treatments were imposed, nitrogen stressed and fertilized. The ranking of δ¹³C of the crosses was maintained across all combinations of water and nitrogen treatments and there was not a significant genetic versus environmental interaction. The positive relationships between needle δ¹³C, WUE and dry matter production demonstrate that it should be possible to use δ¹³C as a surrogate for WUE, and to select for increased WUE without compromising yield, even in nitrogen deficient environments. Nitrogen stressed seedlings had the lowest needle δ¹³C in both irrigated and dry land conditions. There was a positive correlation between needle nitrogen content and δ¹³C that was likely associated with increased photosynthetic capacity. There was some indication that decreased nitrogen supply led to increased stomatal conductance and hence lower WUE. There was a negative correlation between intrinsic water use efficiency and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). This suggests that white spruce seedlings have the ability to maximize NUE when water becomes limited. There was significant genetic variation in NUE that was maintained across treatments. Our results suggest that in white spruce, there is no detectable effect of anaplerotic carbon fixation and that it is more appropriate to use a value of 29‰ (‘Rubisco only’) for the net discrimination against ¹³C during CO₂ fixation. This leads to excellent correspondence between values of C_i/C_a derived from gas exchange measurements or from δ¹³C.     

Root Damage by Insects Reverses the Effects of Elevated Atmospheric CO2 on Eucalypt Seedlings

Predicted increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) are widely anticipated to increase biomass accumulation by accelerating rates of photosynthesis in many plant taxa. Little, however, is known about how soil-borne plant antagonists might modify the effects of elevated CO₂ (eCO₂), with root-feeding insects being particularly understudied. Root damage by insects often reduces rates of photosynthesis by disrupting root function and imposing water deficits. These insects therefore have considerable potential for modifying plant responses to eCO₂. We investigated how root damage by a soil-dwelling insect (Xylotrupes gideon australicus) modified the responses of Eucalyptus globulus to eCO₂. eCO₂ increased plant height when E. globulus were 14 weeks old and continued to do so at an accelerated rate compared to those grown at ambient CO₂ (aCO₂). Plants exposed to root-damaging insects showed a rapid decline in growth rates thereafter. In eCO₂, shoot and root biomass increased by 46 and 35%, respectively, in insect-free plants but these effects were arrested when soil-dwelling insects were present so that plants were the same size as those grown at aCO₂. Specific leaf mass increased by 29% under eCO₂, but at eCO₂ root damage caused it to decline by 16%, similar to values seen in plants at aCO₂ without root damage. Leaf C:N ratio increased by >30% at eCO₂ as a consequence of declining leaf N concentrations, but this change was also moderated by soil insects. Soil insects also reduced leaf water content by 9% at eCO₂, which potentially arose through impaired water uptake by the roots. We hypothesise that this may have impaired photosynthetic activity to the extent that observed plant responses to eCO₂ no longer occurred. In conclusion, soil-dwelling insects could modify plant responses to eCO₂ predicted by climate change plant growth models.     

Nitrogen isotopic fractionation as a biomarker for nitrogen use efficiency in ruminants: a meta-analysis

Animal proteins are naturally ¹⁵N enriched relative to the diet and the extent of this difference (Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet or N isotopic fractionation) has been correlated to N use efficiency (NUE; N gain or milk N yield/N intake) in some recent ruminant studies. The present study used meta-analysis to investigate whether Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet can be used as a predictor of NUE across a range of dietary conditions, particularly at the level of between-animal variation. An additional objective was to identify variables related to N partitioning explaining the link between NUE and Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet. Individual values from eight publications reporting both NUE and Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet for domestic ruminants were used to create a database comprising 11 experimental studies, 41 treatments and individual animal values for NUE (n=226) and Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet (n=291). Data were analyzed by mixed-effect regression analysis taking into account experimental factors as random effects on both the intercept and slope of the model. Diets were characterized according to the INRA feeding system in terms of N utilization at the rumen, digestive and metabolic levels. These variables were used in a partial least squares regression analysis to predict separately NUE and Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet variation, with the objective of identifying common variables linking NUE and Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet. For individuals reared under similar conditions (within-study) and at the same time (within-period), the variance of NUE and Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet not explained by dietary treatments (i.e. between-animal variation plus experimental error) was 35% and 55%, respectively. Mixed-effect regression analysis conducted with treatment means showed that Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet was significantly and negatively correlated to NUE variation across diets (NUE=0.415 −0.055×Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet). When using individual values and taking into account the random effects of study, period and diet, the relationship was also significant (NUE=0.358 −0.035×Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet). However, there may be a biased prediction for animals close to zero, or in negative, N balance. When using a novel statistical approach, attempting to regress between-animal variation in NUE on between-animal variation in Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet (without the influence of experimental factors), the negative relationship was still significant, highlighting the ability of Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet to capture individual variability. Among the studied variables related to N utilization, those concerning N efficiency use at the metabolic level contributed most to predict both Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet and NUE variation, with rumen fermentation and digestion contributing to a lesser extent. This study confirmed that on average Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet can predict NUE variation across diets and across individuals reared under similar conditions.     

Controls over Soil Nitrogen Pools in a Semiarid Grassland Under Elevated CO2 and Warming

Long-term responses of terrestrial ecosystems to the combined effects of warming and elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) will likely be regulated by N availability. The stock of soil N determines availability for organisms, but also influences loss to the atmosphere or groundwater. eCO₂ and warming can elicit changes in soil N via direct effects on microbial and plant activity, or indirectly, via soil moisture. Detangling the interplay of direct- and moisture-mediated impacts on soil N and the role of organisms in controlling soil N will improve predictions of ecosystem-level responses. We followed individual soil N pools over two growing seasons in a semiarid temperate grassland, at the Prairie Heating and CO₂ Enrichment experiment. We evaluated relationships of N pools with environmental factors and explored the role of plants by assessing plant biomass, plant N, and plant inputs to soil. We also assessed N forms in plots with and without vegetation to remove plant-mediated effects. Our study demonstrated that the effects of warming and eCO₂ are highly dependent on individual N form and on year. In this water-constrained grassland, eCO₂, warming and their combination appear to impact soil N pools through a complex combination of direct- and moisture-mediated effects. eCO₂ decreased NO₃ ^? but had neutral to positive effects on NH₄ ⁺ and dissolved organic N (DON), particularly in a wet year. Warming increased NO₃ ^? availability due to a combination of indirect drying and direct temperature-driven effects. Warming also increased DON only in vegetated plots, suggesting plant mediation. Our results suggest that impacts of combined eCO₂ and warming are not always equivalent for plant and soil pools; although warming can help offset the decrease in NO₃ ^? availability for plants under eCO₂, the NO₃ ^? pool in soil is mainly driven by the negative effects of eCO₂.     

Accumulation of soil carbon under elevated CO2 unaffected by warming and drought

Elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration and climate change may substantially alter soil carbon (C) dynamics, which in turn may impact future climate through feedback cycles. However, only very few field experiments worldwide have combined elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) with both warming and changes in precipitation in order to study the potential combined effects of changes in these fundamental drivers of C cycling in ecosystems. We exposed a temperate heath/grassland to eCO₂, warming, and drought, in all combinations for 8 years. At the end of the study, soil C stocks were on average 0.927 kg C/m² higher across all treatment combinations with eCO₂ compared to ambient CO₂ treatments (equal to an increase of 0.120 ± 0.043 kg C m^?2 year^?1), and showed no sign of slowed accumulation over time. However, if observed pretreatment differences in soil C are taken into account, the annual rate of increase caused by eCO₂ may be as high as 0.177 ± 0.070 kg C m^?2 year^?1. Furthermore, the response to eCO₂ was not affected by simultaneous exposure to warming and drought. The robust increase in soil C under eCO₂ observed here, even when combined with other climate change factors, suggests that there is continued and strong potential for enhanced soil carbon sequestration in some ecosystems to mitigate increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations under future climate conditions. The feedback between land C and climate remains one of the largest sources of uncertainty in future climate projections, yet experimental data under simulated future climate, and especially including combined changes, are still scarce. Globally coordinated and distributed experiments with long‐term measurements of changes in soil C in response to the three major climate change‐related global changes, eCO₂, warming, and changes in precipitation patterns, are, therefore, urgently needed.     

Investigating patterns of symbiotic nitrogen fixation during vegetation change from grassland to woodland using fine scale δ15N measurements

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in woody plants is often investigated using foliar measurements of δ¹⁵N and is of particular interest in ecosystems experiencing increases in BNF due to woody plant encroachment. We sampled δ¹⁵N along the entire N uptake pathway including soil solution, xylem sap and foliage to (1) test assumptions inherent to the use of foliar δ¹⁵N as a proxy for BNF; (2) determine whether seasonal divergences occur between δ¹⁵N_{xylem sap} and δ¹⁵N_{soil inorganic N} that could be used to infer variation in BNF; and (3) assess patterns of δ¹⁵N with tree age as indicators of shifting BNF or N cycling. Measurements of woody N‐fixing Prosopis glandulosa and paired reference non‐fixing Zanthoxylum fagara at three seasonal time points showed that δ¹⁵N_{soil inorganic N} varied temporally and spatially between species. Fractionation between xylem and foliar δ¹⁵N was consistently opposite in direction between species and varied on average by 2.4‰. Accounting for these sources of variation caused percent nitrogen derived from fixation values for Prosopis to vary by up to ～70%. Soil–xylem δ¹⁵N separation varied temporally and increased with Prosopis age, suggesting seasonal variation in N cycling and BNF and potential long‐term increases in BNF not apparent through foliar sampling alone.     

Elevated carbon dioxide increases soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability in a phosphorus‐limited Eucalyptus woodland

Free‐air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiments have demonstrated increased plant productivity in response to elevated (e)CO₂, with the magnitude of responses related to soil nutrient status. Whilst understanding nutrient constraints on productivity responses to eCO₂ is crucial for predicting carbon uptake and storage, very little is known about how eCO₂ affects nutrient cycling in phosphorus (P)‐limited ecosystems. Our study investigates eCO₂ effects on soil N and P dynamics at the EucFACE experiment in Western Sydney over an 18‐month period. Three ambient and three eCO₂ (+150 ppm) FACE rings were installed in a P‐limited, mature Cumberland Plain Eucalyptus woodland. Levels of plant accessible nutrients, evaluated using ion exchange resins, were increased under eCO₂, compared to ambient, for nitrate (+93%), ammonium (+12%) and phosphate (+54%). There was a strong seasonality to responses, particularly for phosphate, resulting in a relatively greater stimulation in available P, compared to N, under eCO₂ in spring and summer. eCO₂ was also associated with faster nutrient turnover rates in the first six months of the experiment, with higher N (+175%) and P (+211%) mineralization rates compared to ambient rings, although this difference did not persist. Seasonally dependant effects of eCO₂ were seen for concentrations of dissolved organic carbon in soil solution (+31%), and there was also a reduction in bulk soil pH (‐0.18 units) observed under eCO₂. These results demonstrate that CO₂ fertilization increases nutrient availability – particularly for phosphate – in P‐limited soils, likely via increased plant belowground investment in labile carbon and associated enhancement of microbial turnover of organic matter and mobilization of chemically bound P. Early evidence suggests that there is the potential for the observed increases in P availability to support increased ecosystem C‐accumulation under future predicted CO₂ concentrations.