Improved model representation of the photosynthetic light reactions reduces estimates of global gross primary productivity

The assimilation of carbon dioxide by plants can be predicted by the Farquhar, von Caemmerer and Berry model of photosynthesis. This largely mechanistic model is central to understanding how plants influence Earth’s climate. However, it represents the use of light by photosynthesis using an empirical formulation. Johnson and Berry proposed an alternative mechanistic formulation based on the functioning of the cytochrome b6f complex that includes key steps in light harvesting and electron transport. We compared both formulations using photosynthetic light response measurements from 146 C3 species spanning arctic to tropical biomes and implemented them in the terrestrial biosphere model ELM-FATES to simulate global photosynthesis. The Johnson and Berry formulation better fitted the measured response of leaf-level photosynthesis to light, and predicted lower photosynthetic rates at intermediate light levels, which decreased global estimations of terrestrial photosynthesis by 8%. Our findings support adopting the Johnson and Berry formulation to improve model representation of global carbon cycle modeling.