title: Free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) enhances biomass production in a short-rotation poplar plantation.
abstract: This paper investigates the possible contribution of Short Rotation Cultures (SRC) to carbon sequestration in both current and elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations ([CO2]). A dense poplar plantation (1 x 1 m) was exposed to a [CO2] of 550 ppm in Central Italy using the free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) technique. Three species of Populus were examined, namely P. alba L., P. nigra L. and P. x euramericana Dode (Guinier). Aboveground woody biomass of trees exposed to elevated [CO2] for three growing seasons increased by 15 to 27%, depending on species. As a result, light-use efficiency increased. Aboveground biomass allocation was unaffected, and belowground biomass also increased under elevated [CO2] conditions, by 22 to 38%. Populus nigra, with total biomass equal to 62.02 and 72.03 Mg ha-1 in ambient and elevated [CO2], respectively, was the most productive species, although its productivity was stimulated least by atmospheric CO2 enrichment. There was greater depletion of inorganic nitrogen from the soil after three growing seasons in elevated [CO2], but no effect of [CO2] on stem wood density, which differed significantly only among species.
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Department of Forest Environment and Resources (DISAFRI), Via S. Camillo de Lellis, I-01100 Viterbo, Italy. carlocalf@unitus.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calfapietra
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gielen
authors.forename: A N J
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Galema
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lukac
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Angelis
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Moscatelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ceulemans
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scarascia-Mugnozza
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000502:physiology*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development; D032107:Populus / Q000254:growth & development*; D014197:Trees / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide