How CO2 affects the optimal temperature for plant growth

It is crucial for indoor growers to increase productivity while utilizing sparse resources and space and minimizing expenditures. Lack of knowledge about how CO2 supplementation affects photosynthesis and plant growth limits your operation’s productivity and profitability.

Understanding how CO2 enrichment affects plant growth and how it interacts with the mechanism causing plant transpiration enables indoor plant producers and greenhouse operators to quickly and effectively increase plant productivity and quality: VPD.

Short Summary

• The optimal temperature for photosynthesis rises with increasing CO2 concentrations.
• Plants absorb water and CO2 during photosynthesis from the soil and the atmosphere, but as temperatures rise, VPD rises, stomata close, and the uptake of CO2 is decreased, stressing the plant. In order to maintain appropriate VPD levels at higher temperatures, it is crucial for growers.
• Humidity levels must be raised for optimal VPD at higher temps.
• Plants are more susceptible to diseases (such as bud rot, powdery mildew, and others) and pests, which must be controlled, at higher humidity levels.
• Maintain ideal VPD by raising relative humidity and controlling pest and disease risk to take advantage of rising CO2 levels.

Effects of CO2 on Plants

• Photosynthesis, the method through which plants generate energy in the form of glucose, requires CO2. In the process of photosynthesis, chlorophyll draws light into a plant’s cells and aids in the synthesis of nutrition from CO2 and water. Oxygen is returned to the atmosphere, while CO2 is converted into glucose, a sugar molecule that gives plants the energy they need to thrive.
• During photosynthesis, chemical processes take place. The primary chemical reaction, which produces C6H12O6 and 6O2, is 6CO2 + 6H2O + light. This means that the reaction of carbon dioxide, water, and light produces glucose and oxygen.
• Research have been done to analyze the relationship between greater crop growth and higher CO2 concentrations and temperature. It has been discovered that healthy plant development is increased by higher CO2 concentrations.

3. A study was done to find out how growing Japanese rice and having increased CO2 concentrations affected each other. All five of the cultivators that were examined saw an increase in crop yields, ranging from 3.4% to 30.3%.
4. In a different study, the net rate of photosynthesis in tomato plants was studied at various CO2 concentrations and light intensities. According to the findings, independent of light intensity, net photosynthesis and the ideal growth temperature both rise sharply with an increase in CO2 concentration.

• In a different study, the impact of increased temperature and increased CO2 concentration on potato crop yields was studied. This study concluded that although rising temperatures alone can negatively effect the growth of potatoes, a higher CO2 concentration in conjunction with higher temperatures promotes healthier production and better quality of potato crops.

CO2’s effects on photosynthesis: how they work

The process of photosynthesis requires CO2. This is crucial for greenhouse farming, which tries to maximize crop productivity. When CO2 levels are raised to 1000 ppm (parts per million), the majority of greenhouse crops experience a 50% boost in photosynthesis compared to ambient CO2 levels.

A scientific investigation was done to ascertain, with a focus on root carbohydrates, how elevated CO2 concentrations affected photosynthesis. The study came to the conclusion that a faster rate of photosynthesis resulted in higher carbohydrate production in plants cultivated in higher CO2 environments. The plants also produced more sucrose, a chemical that controls nutrient uptake. This work sheds light on potential improvements that might take place in plant roots grown in increased CO2 environments.

The abundant enzyme Rubisco, also known as ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, is essential for carbon fixation. The conversion of atmospheric CO2 into glucose during photosynthesis is known as carbon fixation.

Another study looked at the photosynthetic reactions that involve the gases O2 and CO2 that Rubisco catalyzes. The findings showed that Rubisco binds CO2 more strongly than it binds O2 at equal gas concentrations. This implies that this enzyme has the capacity to store CO2 in a reservoir.

This discovery is noteworthy since it offers guidance on how to lessen plant stress brought on by high temperatures. The effectiveness of Rubisco can be improved by raising CO2 concentration. As a result, crops become more resilient and yield increases in hotter temperatures.

What level of CO2 plants require

Normal outdoor plant development is achieved at CO2 levels of roughly 400 ppm on average.

CO2 concentrations that are at least two to three times higher than outdoor levels are preferable for greenhouse and indoor plants (800 to 1200 ppm).

The majority of specialists concur that the maximum CO2 level for optimum plant growth is 1500 ppm. CO2 levels beyond 2000 ppm are hazardous to plants.

The Connection Between CO2 and the Optimal Temperature for Photosynthesis

When temperature rises, photosynthesis occurs more quickly. Yet, the amount of CO2 present affects the ideal temperature for photosynthesis.

Big tooth aspen leaves growing under two distinct CO2 concentrations at varied temperatures were investigated as part of a scientific study on CO2 to determine their net photosynthetic rate.

• The ideal growing temperature was around 25 degrees Celsius at a low CO2 saturation of 325 ppm.
• At a growth temperature of 36 degrees Celsius, the net photosynthetic rate increased by 450% at 1935 ppm of CO2.
• It was also discovered that for this plant species, the change from life-sustaining to life-depleting conditions takes place at about 39 degrees Celsius.

Conclusion

Plants grow larger and more quickly when CO2 is added, but they also require higher temperatures and humidity to fully benefit from the higher CO2 levels.

By utilizing their understanding of the interactions between CO2, temperature, and VPD, growers may significantly increase yields. You need a precise and trustworthy method to track their characteristics if you want to understand how these factors affect your vegetation.

By keeping an eye on CO2, VPD, temperature, humidity, PAR, and other important agricultural data types, Pulse Pro can help you manage and improve the environment. For gardeners of any size, it makes growing plants indoors straightforward, safe, and worry-free.