Journal of Natural Environment

Journal of Natural Environment

Carbon uptake and leaf gas exchange of ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior) affected by different intensities of photosynthetically active radiation (Case study: Central Europe forests)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
ahmad sadeghi pour
davood karto nejad
10.22059/jne.2017.124954.928
Abstract
Massive structures of plants have been built on the basis of photosynthesis. In this study, the effects of different light intensity on the leaf photosynthesis, transpiration, CO2 uptake and stomatal conductance was examined. Gas exchange was measured in the planted forest of European ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior) in Hainich national park of Germany. Net photosynthesis rate (A), transpiration rate (E), CO2 stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) etc. was measured for leaves of six ash individuals using LC-pro plus machine. The results showed that maximum net assimilation was about 7.6 kg CO2 per hectare per hour. The maximum intensity of the light used for photosynthesis in this study was 696 µmol m-2 s-1; regarding to the increasing rate of photosynthesis, it seems that the maximum rate of photosynthesis will occur at the PPF a little more than 696 µmol m-2 s-1. Transpiration rate and stomatal conductance of CO2 increased exponentially in all light intensities and their maximum were at 696 µmol m-2 s-1. The photosynthetic rate proved that current species is a semi sun plant (light compensation point = 10.6 µmol m-2 s-1), which can play the role of a shade plant in the forests of Central Europe (maximum intensity of photosynthesis = 3.5). This species has a valuable role in absorbing carbon in the mentioned forest ecosystem, which the annual carbon uptake equals to 1324 g m-2 year-1, which is about 2.5 times than the average uptake of all other species in the ecosystem.
Keywords
CO2
Photosynthesis rate
Carbon fixation
Transpiration
Common ash
Archontoulis, S.V., Struik, P.C., Danalatos, N.G., 2005. Leaf photosynthesis of kenaf (cv. Everglades 41) as affected by different light intensity and temperature regimes. In Proceedings of the 14th European biomass conference, Paris, pp. 17–21.
Bacles, C.F., Burczyk, J., Lowe, A.J., Ennos, R.A., 2005. Historical and contemporary mating patterns in remnant populations of the forest tree Fraxinus excelsior L. Evolution, 59(5), 979–990.
da Silva, J.B., Ferreira, P.A., Pires, L.C., Pereira, E.G., Carneiro, J.E., 2013. Influences of two CO2 concentrations and water availability on bean crop. Engenharia Agrícola, 33(4), 730–738.
Dobrowolska, D., Hein, S., Oosterbaan, A., Wagner, S., Clark, J., Skovsgaard, J.P., 2011. A review of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.): implications for silviculture. Forestry, 84(2), 133–148.
Fraxigen, 2005. Ash Species in Europe: Biological Characteris­tics and Practical Guidelines for Sustainable Use. University of Oxford, Oxford 128 p.
Fukuzawa, Y., Tominaga, J., Akashi, K., Yabuta, S., Ueno, M., Kawamitsu, Y., 2012. Photosynthetic gas exchange characteristics in Jatropha curcas L. Plant Biotechnology, 29(2), 155–162.
Harvey, G.W., 1979. Photosynthetic performance of isolated leaf cells from sun and shade plants. Carnegie Inst. Washington Yearbook, 79, 161–164.
Kerr, G., Cahalan, C., 2004. A review of site factors affecting the early growth of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.). Forest Ecology and Management, 188(1), 225–234.
Knohl, A., Schulze, E.D., Kolle, O., Buchmann, N., 2003. Large carbon uptake by an unmanaged old deciduous forest in central Germany. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 118, 151–167.
Lambers, H., Chapin III, F.S., Pons, T.L. 2008. Plant Physiological Ecology. 2nd Edition, Springer-Verlag New York, 605 pp.
Mehraj, H., Chanda, T., Billah, A.M., Jahan, F., Uddin, A.J., 2014. Green Global Foundation. International Journal of Sustainable Crop Production, 9(3), 35–40.
Mengistu, T., Sterck, F.J., Fetene, M., Tadesse, W., Bongers, F., 2011. Leaf gas exchange in the frankincense tree (Boswellia papyrifera) of African dry woodlands. Tree physiology, 31(7), 740–750.
Mölder, A., Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Schmidt, W., 2006. Forest ecosystem research in Hainich National Park (Thuringia): first results on flora and vegetation in stands with contrasting tree species diversity. Waldoekologie online, 3, 83–99.
Nobel, P.S., 2009. Physicochemical and Environmental Plant Physiology, Fourth Edition. Academic Press, 4th Edition, 540 pp.
Rajmis, S., Barkmann, J., Marggraf, R., 2009. User community preferences for climate change mitigation and adaptation measures around Hainich National Park, Germany. Climate Research, 40(1), 61–73.
Taiz L., Zeiger E., Møller I.M., Murphy, A., 2015. Plant Physiology and Development. 6th Edition, Sinauer Associates publisher, 761 pp.
Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., 2010. Photosynthesis: The carbon reactions. Plant Physiology, 5th edition. Sunderland: Sinauer Assoc, Inc., 782 pp.
Wardle, P., 1961. Fraxinus Excelsior L. Journal of Ecology, 49(3), 739–751.
Journal of Natural Environment
Volume 70, Issue 2
Spring 2017
Pages 373-384