TP 12: Impact of climate change on the feeding value of cereal grains

Due to climate change, particularly the increase of CO₂ in the atmosphere and a decrease in rainfall in summer, impacts on the composition of plants as well as on the feeding value can be expected. While increased atmospheric CO₂ concentration in most plant species (the C3 plants) leads to a stimulation of photosynthesis and plant growth, summer drought has a growth-inhibiting effect. This project examined how the rincrease in atmospheric CO₂ concentration from currenly 380 ppm to estimated 550 ppm in 2050 affects the chemical composition and nutritional quality of cereal grains and whether potential negative effects of the so-called CO₂ fertilization, such as a decrease in protein content, can be influenced by nitrogen fertilization. In addition to the possible effect of the CO₂, for corn as a C4 plant the researchers investigated the impact of summer drought on the nutrient composition and digestibility by digestibility studies with pigs and broilers, as well as by in situ experiments with fistulated cattle. Research material of winter wheat, winter barley and corn was available from Braunschweiger FACE experiments (Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment).

Subproject leaders

Prof. Dr. Dr. Sven Dänicke

Dr. Liane Hüther

Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Braunschweig