Using modified atmospheres is a popular way to improve crop yields. This involves growing crops in an atmosphere that has been changed deliberately to control the concentrations of certain gases. This method is commonly used to help improve crop quality and as a way of preserving products during transportation, as well as to improve food growth. One of the most effective gas concentrations to alter to help with crop growth is carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide is an important chemical foodstuff for plants. This is because, in the presence of sunlight, the plant combines water and carbon dioxide, to produce sugars and oxygen. This process is called photosynthesis. The sugars can either be used as a source of energy, or converted into other chemicals like chlorophyll, a building block of plant growth. The oxygen is released back into the atmosphere so that it is available for all other life on Earth.
It has been shown that elevated carbon dioxide concentrations can increase crop yields. For crops such as legumes, the leaf growth rates and overall biomass can be enhanced with the use of specific carbon dioxide concentrations. However, it was also demonstrated that too much carbon dioxide results in detrimental factors, including reduced seed growth.
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