Open-top chambers (OTCs) consist of semi-open enclosures used to investigate the impact of elevated carbon dioxide [CO
2] on crops and larger plant communities. OTCs have lower operational costs than alternatives such as controlled environment cabinets and Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment
[...] Read more.
Open-top chambers (OTCs) consist of semi-open enclosures used to investigate the impact of elevated carbon dioxide [CO
2] on crops and larger plant communities. OTCs have lower operational costs than alternatives such as controlled environment cabinets and Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE). A low-cost design is presented for an OTC with a surface area of 1.2 m
2 and a target elevated CO
2 concentration [CO
2] of 650 µmol mol
−1 adequate for trials involving cereals or grain legumes. The elevated CO
2 chambers maintained an average concentration ± standard deviation of 652 ± 37 µmol mol
−1 despite wind and air turbulences, in comparison to 407 ± 10 µmol mol
−1 for non-enriched chambers. Relative to ambient (non-chamber) conditions, plants in the chambers were exposed to slightly warmer conditions (2.3 °C in daylight hours; 0.6 °C during night environment). The materials’ cost for constructing the chambers was USD 560 per chamber, while the CO
2 control system for four chambers dedicated to CO
2-enriched conditions cost USD 5388. To maintain the concentration of 650 µmol mol
−1 during daylight hours, each chamber consumed 1.38 L min
−1 of CO
2. This means that a size G CO
2 cylinder was consumed in 8–9 days in the operation of two chambers (at USD 40).
Full article