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Photosynthesis of a temperate fallow C3 herbaceous ecosystem: measurements and model simulations at the leaf and canopy levels

  • Original Papers
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Photosynthetica

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to characterize photosynthesis of temperate fallow C3herbaceous species and examine the performance of a simple photosynthesis model (based on the Farquhar’s equations) to simulate carbon fluxes at the leaf and canopy levels. The maximum rate of carboxylation at 25°C (V m0) was estimated for sunlit leaves using in situ gas exchange data under saturating irradiance. Throughout the seasons, leaf measurements indicate that values of V m0 were similar for the four major species of the fallow. The rate declined from March (100 µmol m−2 s−1) to July (50 µmol m−2 s−1) and remained almost constant until November. The maximum quantum yield estimated for Potentilla reptans L. (dominant species) was 0.082 mol(CO2) mol−1(photon absorbed), similar to values already published for C3 species. Leaf area index (LAI) increased from winter (less than 0.2 m2 m−2) to spring (up to 4 m2 m−2). Rates of canopy photosynthesis (measured with a canopy chamber) strongly depended on LAI and temperature, in addition to irradiance. They reached a maximum of 25 µmol m−2 s−1 and were intermediate between those published for C4 grassland or cultivated species, and on woody species. At leaf level, simulations gave realistic predictions. At canopy level, the model had the ability to reproduce the effects of environmental and seasonal conditions. However, simulations underestimated the photosynthetic activity of the fallow canopy.

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Abbreviations

A :

net photosynthesis

A N :

net assimilation

C a :

ambient CO2 partial pressure

C i :

intercellular CO2 partial pressure

ɛ:

quantum efficiency for CO2 uptake

hs :

relative humidity

Kc and Ko :

Michaelis constants for CO2 and O2 of Rubisco

LAI:

leaf area index

PAR:

photosynthetic active radiation

R D :

dark respiration

SiB2:

Simple Biosphere Model

Γ:

CO2 compensationpoint

τ:

relative specificity of Rubisco to CO2 relative to O2

V m :

maximal capacity of carboxylation

V m0 :

maximal capacity of carboxylation at 25 °C

W c :

rubisco-limited rate of photosynthesis

W e :

light-limited rate

W s :

sink-limited rate

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre d’Etudes Spatiales de la Biosphère (CESBIO), Université Paul Sabatier, UMR (CNRS, CNES, IRD), 18 Avenue Ed. Belin — bpi 2801, 31401, Toulouse Cedex 4, France

    M. Gouasmi, P. Mordelet, V. Demarez, J. -P. Gastellu-Etchegorry, V. Le Dantec, G. Dedieu, J. -C. Menaut & T. Lamaze

  2. Météo-France, CNRM/GAME, CNRS, 42 avenue G. Coriolis, 31057, Toulouse Cedex 1, France

    J. -C. Calvet

Authors
  1. M. Gouasmi
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  2. P. Mordelet
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  3. V. Demarez
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  4. J. -P. Gastellu-Etchegorry
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  5. V. Le Dantec
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  6. G. Dedieu
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  7. J. -C. Menaut
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  8. J. -C. Calvet
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  9. T. Lamaze
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Correspondence to P. Mordelet.

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Gouasmi, M., Mordelet, P., Demarez, V. et al. Photosynthesis of a temperate fallow C3 herbaceous ecosystem: measurements and model simulations at the leaf and canopy levels. Photosynthetica 47, 331–339 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-009-0053-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-009-0053-0

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