Convergence in phosphorus constraints to photosynthesis in forests around the world

Phosphorus (P) limitation is pervasive in tropical forests. Here the authors analyse the dependence of photosynthesis on leaf N and P in tropical forests, and show that incorporating leaf P constraints in a terrestrial biosphere model enhances its predictive power. Tropical forests take up more carbon (C) from the atmosphere per annum by photosynthesis than any other type of vegetation. Phosphorus (P) limitations to C uptake are paramount for tropical and subtropical forests around the globe. Yet the generality of photosynthesis-P relationships underlying these limitations are in question, and hence are not represented well in terrestrial biosphere models. Here we demonstrate the dependence of photosynthesis and underlying processes on both leaf N and P concentrations. The regulation of photosynthetic capacity by P was similar across four continents. Implementing P constraints in the ORCHIDEE-CNP model, gross photosynthesis was reduced by 36% across the tropics and subtropics relative to traditional N constraints and unlimiting leaf P. Our results provide a quantitative relationship for the P dependence for photosynthesis for the front-end of global terrestrial C models that is consistent with canopy leaf measurements.

Crous, K. Y. (author)
De Kauwe, M. G. (author)
Verryckt, L. T. (author)
Goll, D. (author)
Zaehle, S. (author)
Bloomfield, K. J. (author)
Ciais, P. (author)
Cernusak, L. A. (author)
Domingues, T. F. (author)
Dusenge, Mirindi Eric,1986Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för biologi och miljövetenskap,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (author)
Garcia, S. (author)
Guerrieri, R. (author)
Ishida, F. Y. (author)
Janssens, I. A. (author)
Kenzo, T. (author)
Ichie, T. (author)
Medlyn, B. E. (author)
Meir, P. (author)
Norby, R. J. (author)
Reich, P. B. (author)
Rowland, L. (author)
Santiago, L. S. (author)
Sun, Y. (author)
Uddling, Johan,1972Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för biologi och miljövetenskap,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences(Swepub:gu)xuddjo (author)
Walker, A. P. (author)
Weerasinghe, Kwlk (author)
van de Weg, M. J. (author)
Zhang, Y. B. (author)
Zhang, J. L. (author)
Wright, I. J. (author)
Göteborgs universitetInstitutionen för biologi och miljövetenskap (creator_code:org_t)

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