Tropical forests take up more carbon (C) from the atmosphere per annum by photosynthesis than any other type of vegetation. Phosphorus (P) limitations to C uptake are paramount for tropical and subtropical forests around the globe. Yet the generality of photosynthesis-P relationships underlying these limitations are in question, and hence are not represented well in terrestrial biosphere models. Here we demonstrate the dependence of photosynthesis and underlying processes on both leaf N and P concentrations. The regulation of photosynthetic capacity by P was similar across four continents. Implementing P constraints in the ORCHIDEE-CNP model, gross photosynthesis was reduced by 36% across the tropics and subtropics relative to traditional N constraints and unlimiting leaf P. Our results provide a quantitative relationship for the P dependence for photosynthesis for the front-end of global terrestrial C models that is consistent with canopy leaf measurements.

Convergence in phosphorus constraints to photosynthesis in forests around the world

Guerrieri, Rossella;
2022

Abstract

Tropical forests take up more carbon (C) from the atmosphere per annum by photosynthesis than any other type of vegetation. Phosphorus (P) limitations to C uptake are paramount for tropical and subtropical forests around the globe. Yet the generality of photosynthesis-P relationships underlying these limitations are in question, and hence are not represented well in terrestrial biosphere models. Here we demonstrate the dependence of photosynthesis and underlying processes on both leaf N and P concentrations. The regulation of photosynthetic capacity by P was similar across four continents. Implementing P constraints in the ORCHIDEE-CNP model, gross photosynthesis was reduced by 36% across the tropics and subtropics relative to traditional N constraints and unlimiting leaf P. Our results provide a quantitative relationship for the P dependence for photosynthesis for the front-end of global terrestrial C models that is consistent with canopy leaf measurements.
2022
Ellsworth, David S; Crous, Kristine Y; De Kauwe, Martin G; Verryckt, Lore T; Goll, Daniel; Zaehle, Sönke; Bloomfield, Keith J; Ciais, Philippe; Cernusak, Lucas A; Domingues, Tomas F; Dusenge, Mirindi Eric; Garcia, Sabrina; Guerrieri, Rossella; Ishida, F Yoko; Janssens, Ivan A; Kenzo, Tanaka; Ichie, Tomoaki; Medlyn, Belinda E; Meir, Patrick; Norby, Richard J; Reich, Peter B; Rowland, Lucy; Santiago, Louis S; Sun, Yan; Uddling, Johan; Walker, Anthony P; Weerasinghe, K W Lasantha K; van de Weg, Martine J; Zhang, Yun-Bing; Zhang, Jiao-Lin; Wright, Ian J
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/895803
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