C₃ vs C₄ plants: comparing uses, efficiency, and sustainability

Plants carry out photosynthesis in different ways; the two main ones are C₃ photosynthesis—used by almost all plants—and C_₄ photosynthesis, which is more efficient in hot and dry environments. Explore the benefits and usage of C_₄ plants and how they could increase crop resilience and sustainability in this data-driven infographic.

Sources

• C_₄ photosynthesis
• Plant Evolution: The inevitability of C₄ photosynthesis
• The global distribution of ecosystems in a world without fire
• The Costs of Photorespiration to Food Production Now and in the Future
• The effect of increasing temperature on crop photosynthesis: from enzymes to ecosystems