Hans J. Weigel, Remy Manderscheid, Stefan Burkart, Andreas Pacholski, Stefan Schrader, Heidi Anderson, and Anette Giesemann. Federal Agricultural Research Centre, Bundesallee 50, Braunschweig, D-38116, Germany
Current information on how arable
crops in Europe and in Germany, respectively, might respond to future
atmospheric CO2 concentrations [eCO2] is mainly based on studies
performed with isolated plants under optimized growth conditions or studies
carried out in chambers or enclosures, i.e. under conditions which may result
in misinterpretations of the the CO2 fertilization
effect. A FACE experiment was therefore carried out between
1999 to 2005 in an arable crop rotation (winter barley è sugar beet è
winter wheat) at Braunschweig, Germany. The objectives were to assess effects
of e[CO2] (550 ppm)
and the interaction with nitrogen supply on crop performance and on related
agro-ecosystem properties. The design of the Braunschweig
FACE experiment and key findings related to crop growth and yield and to
selected soil responses will be presented.