Interactive effects of elevated CO2 concentration, drought, and nitrogen nutrition on yield and grain quality of spring barley and winter wheat

The interactive effects of elevated CO2 concentration (EC; 700 μmol mol–1), drought stress, UV exclusion, and nitrogen nutrition were studied in open-top chambers located in the Bohemian–Moravian highlands (24 in total). Above-ground biomass at the time of harvest, grain yield, and grain quality parameters were studied in winter wheat (variety Bohemia) and spring barley (variety Bojos). The results showed that elevation of CO2 concentrations increased above-ground biomass and grain yield. Higher levels of nitrogen increased the stimulatory effect of EC on above-ground biomass and grain yield. In addition, UV exclusion stimulated the effect of EC. EC generally led to increased rates of photosynthesis and assimilate formation. Increased storage of starch in the grain led to an unbalanced proportion of proteins and a decrease in their relative content in grain. Similarly to grain yield and above-ground biomass, the decrease in protein content under EC was also more pronounced under UV exclusion. EC led also to reduction of other quality parameters, such as the Zeleny sedimentation test. This effect is more pronounced when nitrogen is not a limiting factor as well as under the effect of drought. The stronger effect under drought stress is probably due to increased water use efficiency