Impact of elevated O3 and CO2 exposure on potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Bintje) tuber macronutrients (N, P, K, Mg, Ca)

It was investigated whether exposure of elevated ozone (O3) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations affected the macronutrient (N, P, K, Mg, Ca) concentrations in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers in three open-top chamber experiments from Sweden and Finland. The tuber concentrations of N, P, K and Mg correlated positively with O3 exposure (although not significantly in the case of N and P) but the O3 exposure had no effect on the tuber concentration of Ca. A likely mechanism behind the observed O3 effects was suggested to be that the more progressed senescence of O3 exposed plants was associated with a larger extent of reallocation of mobile nutrients from the haulm to the tubers. In addition, the uptake of macronutrients may have been less negatively affected by O3 exposure than the assimilation of carbon. O3 tended to reduce the total tuber contents of all investigated nutrients, which imply a reduced fertilizer need per unit field area. This was not associated with a decreased fertilizer need per tonnage of yield, as the tuber nutrient concentrations were increased by O3 exposure. The increased CO2 concentration did not significantly affect any of the investigated macronutrients in the present dataset but did generally prevent the O3 induced increases in nutrient concentrations to be expressed (only significant in the case of N and Mg). The O3 induced increase in tuber K concentration, may mediate earlier observed O3 effects on potato tuber concentrations of citric and malic acids. To conclude, anticipated future (and even presently occurring) O3 exposure has a negative impact on the total tuber contents of K and Ca and probably also on the total tuber contents of N, P and Mg. O3 exposure causes increased tuber concentrations of N, P, K and Mg at an early harvest. The O3 induced increase in tuber concentration tended to diminish by a CO2 elevation.