This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Web of Science (20) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Idso, S. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Idso, S. B. Agricola Articles by Idso, S. B.

Environmental and Stress Physiology

Three Phases of Plant Response to Atmospheric CO₂ Enrichment ¹

United States Water Conservation Laboratory, Phoenix, Arizona 85040

Several years of research on seven different plants (five terrestrial and two aquatic species) suggest that the beneficial effects of atmospheric CO₂ enrichment may be divided into three distinct growth response phases. First is a well-watered optimum-growth-rate phase where a 300 parts per million increase in the CO₂ content of the air generally increases plant productivity by approximately 30%. Next comes a nonlethal water-stressed phase where the same increase in atmospheric CO₂ is more than half again as effective in increasing plant productivity. Finally, there is a water-stressed phase normally indicative of impending death, where atmospheric CO₂ enrichment may actually prevent plants from succumbing to the rigors of the environment and enable them to maintain essential life processes, as life ebbs from corresponding ambient-treatment plants.