Seasonal changes in the effects of free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) on phosphorus uptake and utilization of rice at three levels of nitrogen fertilization

Over time, the relative effect of elevated [CO2] on the photosynthesis and dry matter (DM) production of rice crops is likely to be changed with increasing duration of CO2 exposure. However, there is no systemic information on interactive effects of elevated [CO2] and nitrogen (N) supply on seasonal changes in phosphorus (P) nutrient of rice crops. In order to investigate the interactive effects of these two factors on seasonal changes in plant P concentration, uptake, efficiency and allocation, a free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiment was conducted at Wuxi, Jiangsu, China, in 2001–2003. A japonica cultivar with large panicle was grown at ambient or elevated (ca. 200 μmol mol−1 above ambient) [CO2] and supplied with three levels of N: low (LN, 15 g N m2), medium (MN, 25 g N m2) and high N (HN, 35 g N m2 (2002, 2003)). The MN level was similar to that recommended to local farmers. FACE significantly increased shoot P concentration (dry base) over the season, the average responses varied between 7.3% and 16.2%. Shoot P uptake responses to FACE declined gradually with crop development, with average responses of 57%, 51%, 37%, 26% and 11% on average during the growth periods from transplanting to early-tillering (Period I), early-tillering to mid-tillering (Period II), mid-tillering to panicle initiation (Period III), panicle initiation to heading (Period IV) and heading to grain maturity (Period V), respectively. Seasonal changes in shoot P uptake ratio (i.e., the ratio of shoot P uptake during a given growth period to final shoot P acquisition at grain maturity) responses to FACE followed a similar pattern to that of shoot P uptake, with average responses of 19%, 14%, 3%, −5% and −16% in Periods I, II, III, IV and V of the growth period, respectively. As a result, FACE enhanced shoot P uptake by 33% at grain maturity. P allocation patterns among above-ground organs were not altered by FACE before heading, but it was modified after heading, with a shift in P allocation patterns towards vegetative organ. FACE resulted in the significant decrease in P-use efficiency for biomass across the season and P-use efficiency for grain yield and P harvest index at grain maturity. Generally, there were no interactions between [CO2] and N supply on above P nutrient variables measured. Data from this study has important implications for P management in rice production systems under future elevated [CO2] conditions.