Abstract
An analytical model was used to describe the optimal nitrogen distribution. From this model, it was hypothesized that the non-uniformity of the nitrogen distribution increases with the canopy extinction rate for light and the total amount of free nitrogen in the canopy, and that it is independent of the slope of the relation between light saturated photosynthesis (Pm) and leaf nitrogen content (nL). These hypotheses were tested experimentally for plants with inherently different architectures and different photosynthetic modes. A garden experiment was carried out with a C3 monocot [rice, Oryza sativa (L.)], a C3 dicot [soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr] a C4 monocot [sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moensch] and a C4 dicot [amarantus, Amaranthus cruentus (L.)]. Leaf photosynthetic characteristics as well as light and nitrogen distribution in the canopies of dense stands of these species were measured. The dicot stands were found to have higher extinction coefficients for light than the monocot stands. Dicots also had more non-uniform N distribution patterns. The main difference between the C3 and C4 species was that the C4 species were found to have a greater slope value of the leaf-level Pm—nL relation. Patterns of N distribution were similar in stands of the C3 and C4 species. In general, these experimental results were in accordance with the model predictions, in that the pattern of nitrogen allocation in the canopy is mainly determined by the extinction coefficient for light and the total amount of free nitrogen.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Brown RH (1978) A difference in N use efficiency in C3 and C4 plants and its implications in adaptation and evolution. Crop Sci 18: 93–98
Caemerer S von, Farquhar GD (1981) Some relationships between the biochemistry of photosynthesis and the gas exchange of leaves. Planta 153: 376–387
Charles-Edwards DA, Stutzel H, Ferraris R, Beech DF (1987) An analysis of spatial variation in the nitrogen content of leaves from different horizons within a canopy. Ann Bot 60: 421–426
Evans JR (1989) Photosynthesis and nitrogen relationships in leaves of C3 plants. Oecologia 78: 9–19
Field C (1983) Allocating leaf nitrogen for maximization of carbon gain: leaf age as a control on the allocation program. Oecologia 56: 341–347
Field C, Mooney HA (1986) The photosynthesis nitrogen relationship in wild plants. In: TJ Givnish (ed) On the economy of plant form and function. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp 25–55
Hirose T, Werger MJA (1987a) Nitrogen use efficiency in instantaneous and daily photosynthesis of leaves in the canopy of a Solidago altissima stand. Physiol Plant 70: 215–222
Hirose T, Werger MJA (1987b) Maximizing daily canopy photosynthesis with respect to the leaf nitrogen allocation pattern in the canopy. Oecologia 72: 520–526
Hirose T, Werger MJA, Pons TL, Rheenen JWA van (1988) Canopy structure and leaf nitrogen distribution in a stand of Lysimachia vulgaris (L.) as influenced by stand density. Oecologia 77: 145–150
Hirose T, Werger MJA, Rheenen JWA van (1989) Canopy development and leaf nitrogen distribution in a stand of Carex acutiformis. Ecology 70: 1610–1618
Monsi M, Saeki T (1953) Über den Lichtfaktor in den Pflanzengesellschaften und seine Bedeutung für die Stoffproduktion. Jpn J Bot 14: 22–52
Osmond CB, Winter K, Ziegler H (1982) Functional significance of different pathways of CO2 fixation in photosynthesis. In: Lange O, Nobel P, Osmond CB, Ziegler H (eds) Encyclopedia of plant physiology, vol. 12B. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, New York, pp 479–547
Pearcy RW, Ehleringer J (1983) Comparative ecophysiology of C3 and C4 plants. Plant Cell Environ 7: 1–13
Pons TL, Schieving F, Hirose T, Werger MJA (1989) Optimization of leaf nitrogen allocation for canopy photosynthesis in Lysimachia vulgaris (L.). In: Lambers H, Cambridge ML, Konings H, Pons TL (eds) Causes and consequences of variation in growth rate and productivity of higher plants. SPB Academic, The Hague, pp 175–186
Poorter H, Remkes C, Lambers H (1990) Carbon and nitrogen economy of 24 wild species differing in relative growth rate. Plant Physiol 94: 621–627
Sage RF, Pearcy RW (1987) The nitrogen use efficiency of C3 and C4 plants. II. Leaf nitrogen effects on the gas exchange characteristics of Chenopodium album (L.) and Amaranthus retroflexus (L.) Plant Physiol 84: 959–963
Schieving F, Pons TL, Werger MJA, Hirose T (1992a) The vertical distribution of nitrogen and photosynthetic activity at different plant densities in Carex acutiformis. Plant Soil 14: 9–17
Schieving F, Werger MJA, Hirose T (1992b) Canopy structure, nitrogen distribution and whole canopy photosynthetic carbon gain in growing and flowering stands of tall herbs. Vegetatio 102: 173–182
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Anten, N.P.R., Schieving, F. & Werger, M.J.A. Patterns of light and nitrogen distribution in relation to whole canopy carbon gain in C3 and C4 mono- and dicotyledonous species. Oecologia 101, 504–513 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329431
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329431