German scientists claim CO2 can help crops grow faster

[FarCenter]

While global leaders gather in Copenhagen to discuss how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, German scientists have discovered that carbon dioxide (CO2) from greenhouse gas can not only help crops grow faster, but also reduce water consumption.

A German government-subsidized agricultural science lab released the results Dec 14.

Researchers said in the past few years they planted barley, wheat and beet in experimental fields near the city of Braunschweig, Germany. They released CO2 on the crops and observed the changes in crop growth.

They found that when they release a special mixture of air, with a concentration of 550 ppm, to the crops they yield an average of 10 percent to 15 percent more.

Meanwhile, the vapor let in the air by the crops decreased from 5 percent to 20 percent, which means the crops absorbed less water from the soil.

Scientists concluded that the higher concentration of CO2 in the air the crops are exposed to, the more efficiently they will absorb water.

<SNIP>http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90853/6842674.html

[Richard D]

1. All that food . . .

. . . and no one to eat it.

[mike_c]

2. this is nothing new....

What these experiments do not model is the accompanying rise in average temperature that mitigates much of the increased production, especially in C₃ plants, and that will likely rearrange geographic productivity in ways that are unknown at present. Also, additional carbon can only support greater NPP if nitrogen isn't limiting, which nearly always means highly subsidized NO₃ inputs, which lead to a host of other problems.

Some increased carbon availability is likely to support some increased NPP, but only if all of the other components are balanced.

[FarCenter]

6. The trend seems to be higher precip in northern lattitudes

And farming without applying nitrogen and other fertilizers is just a hobby.

[blm]

3. Nothing loves CO2 more than poison ivy.....

.

[BunkerHill24]

4. I concur n/t

[Gman2]

5. It's crap. Plants need much more fertilizer, And it will deplete the soil

And the amount of C02 used to boost indoor marijuana cultivation is far in excess of the increase expected. And when you close down the stomata, you have a hard time getting enough nutrients. Different bugs and diseases will move from below, to suckerpunch crops that are not immunized to the changing threats. Idiots.

[SOCALS]

7. So are these scientists wrong or not?

Can anyone give a clear answer? And who funded this research? Who benefits from it?

[FarCenter]

8. Carbon dioxide makes crops grow faster German study says

http://www.newcomers-network.de/newsfeed_dpa/091214Carbon_dioxide_makes_crops_grow_faster_.php
Braunschweig, Germany (dpa) - German scientists have discovered a possible upside of global warming: crop plants exposed to higher concentrations of carbon dioxide grow bigger and need less water.

The von Thuenen Institute (vTI), a German government-funded farm science laboratory, said Monday it had planted barley, wheat and sugar beets on test fields over several years and continuously blew the climate-changing gas on the plants as they grew.

The team, lead by Hans-Joachim Weigel, used the mixture of air expected to prevail on the planet in 2050, with 550 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide. The plants developed between 10 and 15 per cent more biomass at maturity.

Depending on the year harvested, the plants also released 5 to 20 per cent less moisture into the atmosphere, yet moisture levels in the soil rose. The plants were tested near the German city of Braunschweig.

The scientists said it appeared that the plants could employ water more efficiently when they had more carbon dioxide available.

They said it was important for planners to know this, given that global warming is expected to lead to longer rainless spells in some regions of the earth. dpa jbp ig ncs

---

Google "von Thuenen Institute" and "Hans-Joachim Weigel" -- they appear to be funded by the German government and quite respected.