Estimating ecosystem maximum light use efficiency based on the water use efficiency principle. (6th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gan, Rong; Zhang, Lu; Yang, Yuting; Wang, Enli; Woodgate, William; Zhang, Yongqiang; Haverd, Vanessa; Kong, Dongdong; Fischer, Tony; Chiew, Francis; Yu, Qiang
• Is Part Of: Environmental research letters. Volume 16:Number 10(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10-06
• Subjects: maximum light use efficiency -- water use efficiency -- carbon -- water -- ecosystem; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Human ecology -- Research -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; 333.7
• DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac263b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1748-9326

Abstract

Abstract: Light use efficiency (LUE) defines the vegetation efficiency of converting radiative energy into biochemical energy through photosynthesis. Estimating the maximum LUE ( ε max ) is critical yet challenging for quantifying gross primary production (GPP) using LUE-based models. This study describes an analytical method for estimating ε max based on water use efficiency (WUE) as determined by plant water use and carbon gain. Unlike other complex parameterization schemes, this WUE-based method is simple and requires four variables relatively easy to acquire. The WUE-based ε max estimates compare favorably well with values based on traditional curve fitting method and that reported in the literature, and clearly distinguished ε max between C3 (1.48 ± 0.33 g C M J − 1 PAR ) and C4 (2.63 ± 0.21 g C M J − 1 PAR ) dominated ecosystems. The range in ε max estimates was narrow across different years and sites within a biome. The WUE-based ε max estimate is theoretically constrained by vegetation water use and can be directly incorporated into LUE models for GPP estimation across ecosystems.