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Effects of Atmospheric CO2 on Potato
Reference
Miglietta, F., Magliulo, V., Bindi, M., Cerio, L., Vaccari, F.P., Loduca, V. and Peressotti, A.  1998.  Free Air CO2 Enrichment of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.): development, growth and yield.  Global Change Biology 4: 163-172.

What was done
The authors grew potatoes for a single season in circular FACE plots at CO2 concentrations of ambient, 460, 560 and 660 ppm and determined the impact of CO2 enrichment on photosynthesis, biomass, yield and crop phenology.

What was learned
Elevated CO2 enhanced rates of potato photosynthesis as inferred from increased levels of total nonstructural carbohydrates in leaves.  When measured in mid-afternoon, leaves grown at 660 ppm CO2 contained 80% more total nonstructural carbohydrates than leaves grown at ambient CO2.  Although CO2 enrichment did not affect plant height or leaf number, it increased yield by generating an additional 1.5 tubers per plant for every 100 ppm increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration.  This growth stimulation translated into a 40% yield increase for plants grown at 660 ppm compared to plants grown at ambient CO2.  Elevated CO2 also affected plant development by causing earlier flowering.  Plants grown at 600 ppm, for example, began flowering one week earlier than plants exposed to ambient CO2.  And at the end of the growing season, CO2 enrichment accelerated senescence.

What it means
Potatoes should gradually increase their rates of photosynthesis as the level of CO2 in the air continues to rise.  Increased photosynthesis, in turn, should stimulate production of nonstructural carbohydrates, which should increase total tuber yields.  Higher levels of atmospheric CO2 should also hasten flowering and senescence in potato, thereby effectively reducing the time that the crop is in the field.  This reduction in field residence time may lead to significant savings for growers, as it could reduce total irrigation requirements and pesticide applications, as well as manpower needed for cultivations.

Reviewed 15 September 1998