Does anyone know the optimal Carbon Dioxide content of the atmosphere for maximizing corn growth?

Question

It would seem to me that this is a critical value when we discuss carbon footprints, etc.

Answer 1

gee....I didn't check this year when I planted.....and it doesn't matter at all

Answer 2

Your question is very interesting.  I hope a lot of people will take notice of it.

You may be interested in this article.  It seems that atmospheric CO2 rates are increasing at a fairly rapid rate and very little work on how this effects plant yields.  But at least some work is being done and maybe more interest in the effects of CO2 levels will be looked at in the future.  More of this work needs to be taken out of the laboratories and into the field.

http://agronomyday.cropsci.uiuc.edu/2002...

Answer 3

The information/ answers given are a good source of information. I had at one time set aside a file which went into the max PPM of CO2 for plant usage. In general plants world wide would benefit from the increase in CO2 and that would lead to a greater rate of removal if it was not for the fact that along with the CO2 are plant (and animal) toxins, especially ozone. These materials will stunt the growth of plants more than the rise in CO2 will increase their growth. This was based on a news article this AM (yahoo news science section "Rising ozone levels could stunt plant growth"). I was researching the topic of high CO2 levels in plant growth and trying to find any research on maximums in an attempt to find what levels would be acceptable in a Mars environment where the atmosphere is mostly CO2. I can not find the bookmarked link for levels in a laboratory setting so I can not quote it or the PPM, but the basic information was that it was fairly low before the CO2 caused the stomata to completely close. As concentrations go up the stomata respond by limiting the gas exchange, which is what was noticed in the greenhouse industry; after a certain point, added CO2 does no good and will give no extra growth. Also you reach the point then where it is becoming toxic to people/ animals. I have been trying to come up with a good way to test what levels CO2 and Oxygen at very low atmospheric pressures will allow plant growth, and what levels will get an acceptable and even a good quality plant growth and production.

Suffice to say, in regards to your question that plants reach a shut down point quickly with high CO2 concentrations. I have been looking for the link and will pass it on when I can.

Answer 4

Actually, corn doesn't need as much CO2 in the atmosphere as some other crops do, such as soybean.  Corn is a C4 plant which means that it can concentrate CO2 around the enzymes that convert CO2 into energy.  This is because they have specialized cells called bundle sheath cells.  The concentration of CO2 within the bundle sheath cells is much higher than atmosperic CO2.

Answer 5

Within a greenhouse, in hydroponics, you can actually adjust the CO2 lvls to the optimum lvl for that type of plant.

So yes this is a viable question.  Biodomes could make use of this technology.

Answer 6

CO2 is not something you can change on your fields.

Unless you decide to park your Camaro at the corner with its engine on.