Effect of elevated carbon dioxide concentration on photosynthetic and transpiration rate in Sandal (Santalum album L.)

摘要

Sandalwood (Santalum album L.) belongs to family Santalaceae. It has gained prominence over other tree species, because of high demand for heartwood and essential oil, to fulfill the increasing demand it is needed to achieve fast growth of the seedling in the nursery stage and as well in the planted site. In the present study the response of elevated carbon dioxide concentration on photosynthetic and transpiration rate in sandal was assessed with the following treatments control (ambient condition), elevated CO2 treatment with FYM (i.e., 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 kg of FYM) and elevated CO2 treatment with no FYM. The morphological parameters such as plant height, collar diameter, and number of leaves, leaf area, seedling biomass; physiological parameter such as photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance were recorded at 120 days. Growth parameters found to be higher in the treatment of elevated CO2 with 15 kg FYM such as seedling height (26.32 cm) and leaf area per plant (247.84 cm2) compare to the other treatments. Photosynthetic rate (19.66 μ mol. m-2 s-1), transpiration rate (3.04 m mol. m-2 s-1) and stomatal conductance (0.30 m mol. m-2 s-1) was found maximum in 15 kg FYM treatment.