The effects of increased temperature on crop growth and yield of soybean grown in a temperature gradient chamber

The global surface temperature is projected to rise and will affect crop performances. This study investigated the effects of increased temperature on yield and dry matter production in a controlled environment that mimicked field conditions using a temperature gradient chamber (TGC). Experiments were conducted from 2009 to 2012 using the soybean cultivar Enrei, which was grown in soil culture beds. Plants were grown in two TGCs as replicates for temperature treatment. Three temperature treatments, near ambient temperature (Ta), ambient temperature+1°C (Ta+1), and ambient temperature+3°C, in 2009 and 2010, and ambient temperature+2°C, in 2011 and 2012 (Ta+2/Ta+3), were established by dividing the rows along which the temperature gradient was created. The aboveground dry matter was significantly reduced by increased temperature from 11% in 2012 to 27% in 2009. Decrease of dry matter accumulation was obvious particularly from flowering to early seed filling and it was associated with decline of leaf photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and the carbon isotope discrimination. Reduced pod number, reduced seed number, and, to some extent, smaller seeds led to a decreased harvest index (HI). These phenomena might be associated with the delayed pod set and lower seed growth rate under warmer treatment. Seed yield was the most responsive parameter in 2009 and 2010, and in 2011 and 2012, it was still reduced under continuously wet conditions. Combined data showed that total dry matter, seed yield, and HI were consistently reduced by increased temperature. It is suggested that the concomitant increase of vapor pressure deficit with increased temperature exacerbated the temperature effects. In addition, reduced ambient CO₂ and low light intensity as the artifacts of the facility might have accounted for the greater effect of high temperature.