Annual gross primary production and absorption of solar energy by artemisia SP. in arid and semiarid shrublands

Abstract

Gross primary production (GPP), transpiration and conversion efficiency of solar energy by Artemisia sieberi and Artemisia aucheri in Nodushan shrublands of Yazd, Iran, were determined. GPP was determined through estimates of net primary production (NPP) and respiration (R) of leaf, new branch, stem, coarse root and fine root. Total biomass (g C m-2) of A.sieberi and A.aucheri was 81.7 and 224.87 respectively. The ratio of below-to-aboveground biomass was 0.4 and 0.56 respectively, for A.sieberi and A.aucheri. Total NPP, R and GPP (g C m-2) were 32.11, 53.1 and 85.21 for A.sieberi and 62.75, 91.56 and 154.31 for A.aucheri. The carbon use efficiency (NPP/GPP), R/GPP and Belowground NPP/total NPP were 0.38, 0.62 and 0.29 for A.sieberi and 0.41, 0.59 and 0.37 for A.aucheri respectively. Based on the estimates of solar energy available in the study sites, the amount of incoming solar energy absorbed in photosynthesis and transpiration was 0.05 % and 0.08 % by A.sieberi, and 0.08 % and 0.17 % by A.aucheri. Artemisia shrublands play an important role as carbon sinks and energy stocks in arid and semiarid ecosystems of the central parts of Iran. © 2013, ALÖKI Kft., Budapest, Hungary.