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Growing wheat in Biosphere 2 under elevated CO2: observations and modeling
F N Tubiello1, T Mahato, T Morton
1Columbia University, NASA-Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York 10025, USA.
Ecological Engineering
|September 7, 2001
Summary
Spring wheat growth in Biosphere 2
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Plant Physiology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- The Intensive Agricultural Biome (IAB) of Biosphere 2 provides a unique environment for studying crop growth under controlled conditions.
- Understanding plant responses to environmental factors is crucial for developing sustainable agriculture and life support systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the growth and development of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Yecora Rojo) within the IAB.
- To validate the CERES-Wheat crop growth model's performance in a novel, enclosed environment.
- To analyze factors influencing wheat photosynthetic efficiency in the IAB.
Main Methods:
- Spring wheat was cultivated in the IAB during the 1995-1996 winter/spring season.
- Environmental parameters including temperature, relative humidity, CO2 concentration, and light intensity were monitored.
- Above-ground biomass and phenological stages were recorded weekly.
- The CERES-Wheat model was employed to simulate and analyze crop growth data.
Main Results:
- CERES-Wheat accurately simulated Biosphere 2 wheat growth, predicting phenological stages and dry matter production within 10% of observed values.
- Normalized dry matter production rates indicated photosynthetic efficiencies intermediate between field conditions and NASA's Controlled Ecological Life-Support Systems (CELSS).
- Low light levels within the IAB were identified as the primary factor affecting photosynthetic efficiency, with contributions from elevated CO2 and diffuse light.
Conclusions:
- Wheat growth in the IAB is comparable to that in other documented environments, validating the suitability of the IAB for agricultural research.
- The CERES-Wheat model is a reliable tool for simulating crop growth in controlled environments like Biosphere 2.
- Optimizing light conditions is essential for enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and crop yield in enclosed agricultural systems.
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