Lecture 4: Crop Resource Use Flashcards
Examples of abiotic factors
light
atmospheric CO2
temperature
water
nutrients
other soil constraints
Examples of biotic factors
weeds
disease
insects
soil microorganisms
intraspecific competition
photosynthetically active radiation
the wavelengths that chlorophylls can absorb
typical growth curve
as plant gets bigger, it needs more resources
What happens if plants get too much light
causes plants to bleach and burn
How can light be minimized
shading
agrivoltaics (solar panels)
How to prevent too little light?
intercropping (varying height)
breeding plants to be thinner
photoperiodism
a biological response to a change in the proportions of light and dark in a 24-hour daily cycle
3 types of plants (day lengths)
short-day (light period shorter than critical period)
Long-day (light period longer than critical period)
Day-neutral (will flower regardless of daylength)
harvest index
ratio of grain yield/total biomass
C3 photosynthesis
Carbon dioxide is added to a phosphorylated 5-carbon sugar RuBP and catalyzed by the enzyme Rubisco. The resulting 6-carbon compound breaks down into 2 molecules of 3-phosphoglyceric acid
what does the photorespiration process use and release
uses O2 and releases CO2
When does photorespiration increase and decrease
increases with light intensity and high temps, and decreases with increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations
C4 photosynthesis
carboxylating enzymes are phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, followed by rubisco and photosynthesis is more efficient
what are C4 plants better adapted to
high heat and dryness because they have smaller stomata to prevent water loss
