Strawberry plant struggling to grow in a smog-filled greenhouse, symbolizing the dangers of CO2 fertilizer emissions.

Silent Killers in Your Strawberry Patch? The Hidden Danger of CO2 Fertilizers

Avery Sinclair in Science & Nature December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Uncover how hazardous gases from CO2 fertilization units can wreak havoc on your strawberry plants, leading to oxidative damage and reduced yields."

For growers, especially those using greenhouses, CO2 fertilization is a common tactic to boost yields. By increasing the CO2 concentration around plants, photosynthesis gets a kickstart, leading to faster growth and bigger harvests. But what if this seemingly beneficial process had a hidden downside?

A recent study sheds light on a concerning issue: the hazardous gases released from CO2 fertilizer units or direct heating systems. Incomplete combustion can lead to the formation of carbon monoxide (CO), nitroxide (NOx), methane (CH4), and propane (C3H8). While seemingly minor, these gases can trigger oxidative damage in plants, hindering their ability to photosynthesize effectively.

This article delves into the research, revealing how these gases impact strawberry plants, a popular greenhouse crop. We'll explore the specific damage they cause, the underlying mechanisms, and what steps can be taken to mitigate these risks for healthier and more productive crops.

The Stealthy Attack: How Hazardous Gases Harm Strawberry Plants

Strawberry plant struggling to grow in a smog-filled greenhouse, symbolizing the dangers of CO2 fertilizer emissions.

The study focused on exposing strawberry plants to CO, NOx, CH4, and C3H8 gases for varying durations. The results indicated a clear link between these gases and oxidative stress within the plants. Researchers observed increased levels of H2O2 and O2-1, both indicators of cellular damage.

But the damage didn't stop there. The researchers also found that:

Photosynthetic Pigments Reduced: The levels of chlorophyll and carotenoids, essential for photosynthesis, decreased significantly.
Stomatal Damage: The stomata, tiny pores on the leaves that regulate gas exchange, were damaged and remained closed, hindering the plant's ability to breathe.
Impaired Photosynthetic Activity: Overall photosynthetic performance was negatively impacted, meaning the plants couldn't efficiently convert light into energy.
Reduced Protein Expression: The expression of multiprotein complexes, crucial for various plant functions, was also diminished.

In essence, these hazardous gases disrupt the fundamental processes that allow strawberry plants to thrive. By inducing oxidative stress and impairing photosynthesis, they undermine the plant's health and productivity.

Protecting Your Crop: What You Can Do

The study emphasizes the importance of improving the efficiency of CO2 boiler and heating systems used in greenhouses. Incomplete combustion is the primary culprit behind the emission of these hazardous gases, so optimizing these systems is crucial.

Here are some key steps to consider:

<ul> <li>Invest in advanced CO2 boilers/heating systems: Newer models are designed for more complete combustion, minimizing the release of harmful gases.</li> <li>Regular Maintenance: Ensure your equipment is properly maintained to optimize combustion efficiency.</li> <li>Install Emission Sensors: Implement sensors to monitor the levels of CO, NOx, and other hydrocarbons, allowing for timely intervention if levels become too high.</li> <li>Explore Alternative Fertilization Methods: Research and consider alternative CO2 fertilization methods that don't rely on combustion.</li> </ul>

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1038/s41598-018-30838-3, Alternate LINK

Title: Hazardous Gases (Co, Nox, Ch4 And C3H8) Released From Co2 Fertilizer Unit Lead To Oxidative Damage And Degrades Photosynthesis In Strawberry Plants

Subject: Multidisciplinary

Journal: Scientific Reports

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Sowbiya Muneer, Jeong Hyun Lee

Published: 2018-08-16

Everything You Need To Know

What's the hidden danger of using CO2 fertilization for strawberries?

CO2 fertilization, while intended to boost strawberry yields, can lead to the release of hazardous gases like carbon monoxide (CO), nitroxide (NOx), methane (CH4), and propane (C3H8) from CO2 fertilizer units or direct heating systems. These gases are byproducts of incomplete combustion and can negatively impact plant health.

How do hazardous gases from CO2 fertilizers actually harm strawberry plants?

Exposure to gases like carbon monoxide (CO), nitroxide (NOx), methane (CH4), and propane (C3H8) leads to oxidative stress in strawberry plants. This results in reduced levels of chlorophyll and carotenoids, damaged stomata (affecting gas exchange), impaired photosynthetic activity, and diminished protein expression, all of which hinder the plants' ability to thrive.

Why is stomatal damage from these gases so detrimental to strawberry plants?

Damaged stomata prevent strawberry plants from properly exchanging gases, disrupting essential processes like photosynthesis and respiration. When stomata are forced to remain closed due to exposure to carbon monoxide (CO), nitroxide (NOx), methane (CH4), and propane (C3H8), the plants can't effectively take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis or release oxygen, ultimately stunting their growth and productivity.

What practical steps can strawberry growers take to protect their crops from these gas emissions?

To mitigate the risks associated with CO2 fertilization, it's crucial to optimize CO2 boiler and heating systems in greenhouses. Ensuring complete combustion minimizes the emission of hazardous gases like carbon monoxide (CO), nitroxide (NOx), methane (CH4), and propane (C3H8). Regular maintenance, proper ventilation, and monitoring gas levels can further safeguard strawberry plant health.

How does the decrease in chlorophyll and carotenoids, caused by these gases, affect the strawberry plants?

The reduction in chlorophyll and carotenoids, caused by gases like carbon monoxide (CO), nitroxide (NOx), methane (CH4), and propane (C3H8), impairs the ability of strawberry plants to absorb light efficiently. Chlorophyll and carotenoids are essential pigments for capturing light energy and converting it into chemical energy through photosynthesis. When their levels decrease, the plants become less efficient at producing the energy they need for growth and fruit production, leading to reduced yields and overall plant health. Further research may look at the use of supplemental lighting to compensate.