Researchers have disclosed that the photosynthetic capacity of leaves can be improved by the addition of nitrogen, according to a recent research article published in the journal Global Change Biology.

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition is a crucial factor influencing the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems. The researchers from the South China Botanical Garden under the Chinese Academy of Sciences hoped to analyze the effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on the photosynthetic carbon absorption of plants on a global scale.

They constructed a global meta-analysis to reveal the effects of nitrogen addition on 14 related functional traits and found that the addition of nitrogen apparently improved the photosynthetic carbon absorption of plants by increasing the total leaf area and the leaf-level photosynthetic capacity.

As experimental duration and nitrogen load increased, the response of leaf photosynthetic capacity weakened while that of the transpiration rate increased significantly, said the research article.

The results indicated that the nitrogen deposition will increase the water consumption and gross photosynthetic carbon gain of terrestrial plants. But the effects on carbon gain might diminish over time while the effects on plant water use would be amplified if nitrogen deposition persists. (Xinhua)