Effects of nutrient (NPK) supply on sugar beet response to elevated atmospheric CO2

Abstract

To study interactions between nutrient supply and increased CO2 concentration in sugarbeet, plants were grown in pots for 4 months at ambient and doubled CO2 concentration and different levels of N, P or K. Doubling of ambient CO2 resulted in a moderate increase in total yield (+24%) and beet yield (+34%), however this CO2 effect disappeared with increasing nutrient shortage (in particular nitrogen). CO2 doubling did not result in significant changes in the minimum nutrient concentrations in leaves and beets.