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Photosynthesis increases linearly with light intensity at low intensity, but at higher intensity this is no longer the case (see Photosynthesis-irradiance curve). Above about 10,000 lux or ~100 watts/square meter the rate no longer increases. Thus, most plants can only use ~10% of full mid-day sunlight intensity. [6]
The CO 2 compensation point (Γ) is the CO 2 concentration at which the rate of photosynthesis exactly matches the rate of respiration. There is a significant difference in Γ between C 3 plants and C 4 plants: on land, the typical value for Γ in a C 3 plant ranges from 40–100 μmol/mol, while in C 4 plants the values are lower at 3–10 μmol/mol. Plants with a weaker CCM, such as C2 ...
The average rate of energy captured by global photosynthesis is approximately 130 terawatts, [6] [7] [8] which is about eight times the total power consumption of human civilization. [9] Photosynthetic organisms also convert around 100–115 billion tons (91–104 Pg petagrams , or billions of metric tons), of carbon into biomass per year.
The rate of decomposition is governed by three sets of factors: the physical environment (temperature, moisture and soil properties), the quantity and quality of the dead material available to decomposers, and the nature of the microbial community itself. [64] Decomposition rates are low under very wet or very dry conditions.
The Calvin cycle of photosynthesis. Regardless of its source, this energy is used to synthesize complex organic molecules from simpler inorganic compounds such as carbon dioxide (CO 2) and water (H 2 O). The following two equations are simplified representations of photosynthesis (top) and (one form of) chemosynthesis (bottom): CO 2 + H 2 O ...
Carbon is cycled throughout the ecosystem as various factors continue to uptake or release the carbon in different circumstances. Ecosystems take in carbon through photosynthesis, decomposition, and ocean uptake. [4] Ecosystems return this carbon through animal respiration, and plant respiration. [4]
Global climate change is composed of numerous changing factors including rising atmospheric CO 2, increasing temperature and shifting precipitation patterns. All of these factors can affect the rate of global soil respiration. Increased nitrogen fertilization by humans also has the potential to affect rates over the entire planet.
Biomass partitioning is the process by which plants divide their energy among their leaves, stems, roots, and reproductive parts.These four main components of the plant have important morphological roles: leaves take in CO 2 and energy from the sun to create carbon compounds, stems grow above competitors to reach sunlight, roots absorb water and mineral nutrients from the soil while anchoring ...