What is the maximum efficiency with which photosynthesis can convert solar energy into biomass?
Abstract
Photosynthesis is the source of our food and fiber. Increasing world population, economic development, and diminishing land resources forecast that a doubling of productivity is critical in meeting agricultural demand before the end of this century. A starting point for evaluating the global potential to meet this goal is establishing the maximum efficiency of photosynthetic solar energy conversion. The potential efficiency of each step of the photosynthetic process from light capture to carbohydrate synthesis is examined. This reveals the maximum conversion efficiency of solar energy to biomass is 4.6% for C3 photosynthesis at 30 degrees C and today's 380 ppm atmospheric [CO2], but 6% for C4 photosynthesis. This advantage over C3 will disappear as atmospheric [CO2] nears 700 ppm.
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εc operates substantially below the theoretical maxima for C3 (0.094) and C4 (0.123) crop canopies and therefore limits yield potential.
“However, 𝜀c operates substantially below the theoretical maxima for C3 (0.094) and C4 (0.123; Zhu et al., 2010) crop canopies and therefore limits yield potential (Zhu et al., 2008, 2010)”
From Photosynthesis, Light Use Efficiency, and Yield of Reduced-Chlorophyll Soybean Mutants in Field Conditions (2017) · cites this paper as Zhu et al., 2008
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“…substantially below the theoretical maxima for C3 (0.094) and C4 (0.123; Zhu et al., 2010) crop canopies and therefore limits yield potential (Zhu et al., 2008, 2010), especially in soybean where the maximum realized εc (0.028) is estimated at less than a third of the C3 theoretical…”
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- Authors
- Zhu, X.-G., Long, S. P., & Ort, D. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- Agricultural Research Service (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ort, Donald R
- Venue
- Current Opinion in Biotechnology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-04
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 153-159
- ISSN
- 0958-1669 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2094399323
- Cited by
- 1,145
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 56 · 2025: 74 · 2024: 64 · 2023: 84 · 2022: 87 · 2021: 67 · 2020: 89 · 2019: 71 · 2018: 67 · 2017: 64 · 2016: 62 · 2015: 67 · 2014: 70 · 2013: 56 · 2012: 51
- FWCI
- 2.98
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Current Opinion in Biotechnology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control
- Keywords
- photosynthetic efficiency, solar energy conversion, biomass production, C3 photosynthesis, C4 photosynthesis, light capture, carbohydrate synthesis, atmospheric CO2 concentration, agricultural productivity, global food demand
- MeSH terms
- Models, Biological, Photosynthesis, Plants, Solar Energy, Plant Physiological Phenomena, Biomass, Plant Development
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