The phaenoflex experiment artificially downregulated sink activities (structural growth) by reducing cell turgor via water constraints (drought treatments). At the same time another cohort of saplings were defoliated which caused a strong source limitation by cutting the supply chain of newly photosynthesized sugars. Since this was repeated three times over the growing season this setting is ideal to make a carbon balance over the growing season by:
a) calculating the C uptake through photosynthesis (e.g. Farquhar-Model) for control, defoliation and drought treatments based on environmental variables (temp, humidity, light intensity + duration) and plant traits (Amax, leaf area and leaf area exposure).
-> the offset between control and defoliation/drought treatments should depict the losses in photosynthesis.
b) calculate the amount of C molecules invested in growth (biomass increment translated in C units)
-> the offset between control and defoliation/drought treatments should depict the failed opportunity to invest C.
The phaenoflex experiment artificially downregulated sink activities (structural growth) by reducing cell turgor via water constraints (drought treatments). At the same time another cohort of saplings were defoliated which caused a strong source limitation by cutting the supply chain of newly photosynthesized sugars. Since this was repeated three times over the growing season this setting is ideal to make a carbon balance over the growing season by:
a) calculating the C uptake through photosynthesis (e.g. Farquhar-Model) for control, defoliation and drought treatments based on environmental variables (temp, humidity, light intensity + duration) and plant traits (Amax, leaf area and leaf area exposure). -> the offset between control and defoliation/drought treatments should depict the losses in photosynthesis.
b) calculate the amount of C molecules invested in growth (biomass increment translated in C units) -> the offset between control and defoliation/drought treatments should depict the failed opportunity to invest C.