Radiation use efficiency and yield of wheat grown under elevated CO2 and temperature in open top chamber at Patna, Bihar

Abstract

Elevated CO2 increases the C3 photosynthetic rate at the cellular level through increased carboxylation and decreased oxygenation, both of which are catalyzed by Rubisco. The study was conducted in the experimental farm of ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna (Lat. 25°35’37" N, Long. 85°05’ E and altitude 51.8 m amsl) under open top chamber (OTC). The circular structure of OTCs were made with an aluminum frame covered with UV-treated poly carbonate sheet, which transmits 85% of natural sunlight. The higher grain yields in wheat crop under elevated CO2 were primarily due to their greater biomass production capacity and not due to a greater fraction of total biomass being partitioned to grains. The percentage of filled grains also was significantly greater in the elevated treatment. Harvest index (HI) differed significantly between the elevated and ambient treatments in both the years. However, HI of the open treatment was significantly lower than the other two. Seed yields under elevated CO 2 were greater than the ambient and open field treatment.

Keywords

• GHG,
• OTC,
• elevated CO2
• wheat,
• climate change
• RUE