Abstract
Summary Atmospheric CO 2 concentration ([CO 2 ]) and temperature are likely to increase in the future and may change plant growth and composition characteristics. Rhizoma peanut ( Arachis glabrata Benth.) and bahiagrass ( Paspalum notatum Flügge) were grown on a natural field soil in temperature‐gradient greenhouses to evaluate the effects of elevated [CO 2 ] and temperature on tissue composition and digestibility during the establishment year. Carbon dioxide levels were maintained at 365 (ambient) and 640 μL CO 2 L –1 air. The temperature‐gradient greenhouses were regulated to obtain air temperature sectors of 0.2, 1.5, 2.9, and 4.5 °C above ambient. Samples were taken of previously undefoliated herbage at 57, 86, 121, 148, and 217 days after planting and entire plots were harvested at 218 days after planting. Elevated [CO 2 ] increased total nonstructural carbohydrate concentration in rhizoma peanut leaves by almost 50%. Rhizoma peanut leaf N concentration was 6% lower at elevated than at ambient [CO 2 ]. The N concentration in new rhizomes of rhizoma peanut was increased by high [CO 2 ], while the N concentration in bahiagrass was not affected by temperature or [CO 2 ]. No effects of [CO 2 ] and temperature were found on neutral detergent fibre in rhizoma peanut leaves or stems; however, elevated [CO 2 ] increased neutral detergent fibre in bahiagrass leaves. Only at season end was in vitro organic matter digestion of rhizoma peanut higher at ambient (623 g kg –1 ) than at elevated [CO 2 ] (609 g kg –1 ). Elevated [CO 2 ] had a greater effect on tissue composition of rhizoma peanut than of bahiagrass. These data suggest that elevated temperature and CO 2 ‐induced changes in chemical composition of forage species adapted to humid subtropics will be relatively small, particularly for C4 species.