Photosynthetic responses of C3 and C4 species to seasonal water variability and competition

This study examined the impacts of seasonal water variability and interspecific competition on the photosynthetic characteristics of a C-3 (Leymus chinensis) and a C-4 (Chloris virgata) grass species. Plants received the same amount of water but in three seasonal patterns, i.e. the one-peak model (more water in the summer than in the spring and autumn), the two-peak model (more water in the spring and autumn than in the summer), and the average model (water evenly distributed over the growing season). The effects of water variability on the photosynthetic characteristics of the C-3 and C-4 species were dependent on season. There were significant differences in the photosynthetic characteristics of the C-4 species in the summer and the C-3 species in the autumn among the three water treatments. Interspecific competition exerted negative impacts on the C-3 species in August and September but had no effects on the C-4 species in any of the four measuring dates. The relative competitive capability of the two species was not altered by water availability. The assimilation rate, the maximum quantum yield of net CO2 assimilation, and the maximum rate of carboxylation of the C-3 species were 13-56%, 5-11%, and 11-48% greater, respectively, in a monoculture than in a mixture in August and September. The results demonstrated that the photosynthetic characteristics of the C-3 and C-4 species were affected by water availability, but the effects varied considerably with season.