Optimizing water-use efficiency under elevated CO₂: A meta-analysis of crop type, soil modulation, and enrichment methods
Elevated CO2 (eCO2) significantly affect the carbon-water cycle in terrestrial ecosystems especially for gas exchange and water use efficiency (WUE). Therefore, in this study, we have conducted a meta-analysis to quantitative statistical means among studies and discuss how WUE responds to eCO2 under...
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Agricultural Water Management |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425000265 |
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| author | Ali Mokhtar Hongming He Samar Attaher Ali Salem Muneer Alam |
| author_facet | Ali Mokhtar Hongming He Samar Attaher Ali Salem Muneer Alam |
| author_sort | Ali Mokhtar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Elevated CO2 (eCO2) significantly affect the carbon-water cycle in terrestrial ecosystems especially for gas exchange and water use efficiency (WUE). Therefore, in this study, we have conducted a meta-analysis to quantitative statistical means among studies and discuss how WUE responds to eCO2 under pathway (C3 and C4), four enrichment methods and soil types based on 124 peer-reviewed studies and 1474 observations to provide an in-depth overview of how these factors interact under future CO₂ scenarios. Key findings reveal that: (1) C₃ crops, such as potato and tomato, show significantly greater increases in WUE compared to C₄ crops like maize, with effect sizes of 13.96 and 7.02 for plant-level WUE (WUEₚ), suggesting that C₃ crops may be more advantageous in water-limited environments due to reduced photorespiration under eCO₂; (2) soil type substantially modulates WUE responses, with clay soils, due to their high water-holding capacity, demonstrating the highest WUE enhancements (effect sizes of 7.87 for WUEₚ and 12.54 for yield WUE, WUEᵧ), while sandy soils, characterized by rapid drainage, showed limited improvements; and (3) greenhouse and growth chamber studies displayed the highest WUE improvements, while FACE experiments, which better replicate real-world conditions, indicated smaller WUE increases due to environmental variability, underscoring the need for a hybrid approach that merges controlled data with field insights to develop practical, water-efficient agricultural strategies. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential for crop- and soil-specific strategies to optimize WUE under elevated CO₂, offering valuable insights for sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8e1e76636b844dd7932ba6d8b4a7e984 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1873-2283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agricultural Water Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-8e1e76636b844dd7932ba6d8b4a7e9842025-02-06T05:11:02ZengElsevierAgricultural Water Management1873-22832025-03-01309109312Optimizing water-use efficiency under elevated CO₂: A meta-analysis of crop type, soil modulation, and enrichment methodsAli Mokhtar0Hongming He1Samar Attaher2Ali Salem3Muneer Alam4School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 209962, China; Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza 12613, EgyptSchool of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 209962, China; Correspondence to: School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 209962, China.The International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), EgyptCivil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Minia University, Minia 61111, Egypt; Structural Diagnostics and Analysis Research Group, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Pécs, Boszorkány ut 2, Pecs H-7624, Hungary; Correspondence to: Structural Diagnostics and Analysis Research Group, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary.School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 209962, ChinaElevated CO2 (eCO2) significantly affect the carbon-water cycle in terrestrial ecosystems especially for gas exchange and water use efficiency (WUE). Therefore, in this study, we have conducted a meta-analysis to quantitative statistical means among studies and discuss how WUE responds to eCO2 under pathway (C3 and C4), four enrichment methods and soil types based on 124 peer-reviewed studies and 1474 observations to provide an in-depth overview of how these factors interact under future CO₂ scenarios. Key findings reveal that: (1) C₃ crops, such as potato and tomato, show significantly greater increases in WUE compared to C₄ crops like maize, with effect sizes of 13.96 and 7.02 for plant-level WUE (WUEₚ), suggesting that C₃ crops may be more advantageous in water-limited environments due to reduced photorespiration under eCO₂; (2) soil type substantially modulates WUE responses, with clay soils, due to their high water-holding capacity, demonstrating the highest WUE enhancements (effect sizes of 7.87 for WUEₚ and 12.54 for yield WUE, WUEᵧ), while sandy soils, characterized by rapid drainage, showed limited improvements; and (3) greenhouse and growth chamber studies displayed the highest WUE improvements, while FACE experiments, which better replicate real-world conditions, indicated smaller WUE increases due to environmental variability, underscoring the need for a hybrid approach that merges controlled data with field insights to develop practical, water-efficient agricultural strategies. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential for crop- and soil-specific strategies to optimize WUE under elevated CO₂, offering valuable insights for sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425000265Elevated CO2Photosynthetic rateStomatal conductanceWater use efficiencyYieldMeta-analysis |
| spellingShingle | Ali Mokhtar Hongming He Samar Attaher Ali Salem Muneer Alam Optimizing water-use efficiency under elevated CO₂: A meta-analysis of crop type, soil modulation, and enrichment methods Agricultural Water Management Elevated CO2 Photosynthetic rate Stomatal conductance Water use efficiency Yield Meta-analysis |
| title | Optimizing water-use efficiency under elevated CO₂: A meta-analysis of crop type, soil modulation, and enrichment methods |
| title_full | Optimizing water-use efficiency under elevated CO₂: A meta-analysis of crop type, soil modulation, and enrichment methods |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing water-use efficiency under elevated CO₂: A meta-analysis of crop type, soil modulation, and enrichment methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing water-use efficiency under elevated CO₂: A meta-analysis of crop type, soil modulation, and enrichment methods |
| title_short | Optimizing water-use efficiency under elevated CO₂: A meta-analysis of crop type, soil modulation, and enrichment methods |
| title_sort | optimizing water use efficiency under elevated co₂ a meta analysis of crop type soil modulation and enrichment methods |
| topic | Elevated CO2 Photosynthetic rate Stomatal conductance Water use efficiency Yield Meta-analysis |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425000265 |
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