[Effects of free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) on yield formation in rice (Oryza sativa)]

Effect of Free-Air CO2 enrichment (FACE, 200 mumol.mol-1 higher than CK) on rice yield and its components under field condition were studied with a Japonica variety 99-15. Results showed that FACE treatment had no obvious effect on plant height and number of leaves on main stem, but could quicken growth process of rice, shorten the whole growth duration. Increment of nitrogen application rate could weaken the effect of FACE on whole growth duration. The number of tillers and panicles, and fulfilled-grain percentage increased significantly under FACE treatment, whereas spikelets per panicle decreased. FACE treatment could significantly increase grain yield of rice, especially when higher rate of nitrogen fertilizer was applied. Increasing spikelets per panicle and spikelets per unit area under FACE treatment would result in marked increment of rice yield. Increasing nitrogen application rate was an important approach to increase spikelets per panicle and spikelets per unit area under FACE treatment.