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Elevated ozone prevents acquisition of available nitrogen due to smaller root surface area in poplar

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Abstract

Aims

Poplars are ecologically and economically important tree genus, sensitive to ozone (O3). This study aimed to investigate modifying effects of elevated O3 on poplar root response to nutrient addition.

Methods

In pot experiment, young trees of an O3-sensitive Oxford poplar clone (Populus maximoviczii Henry × berolinensis Dippel) growing in soil with three levels of P (0, 40 and 80 kg ha−1) and two levels of N (0 and 80 kg ha−1) were exposed to three levels of O3 (ambient – AA, 1.5 x AA, 2.0 x AA) at a free air exposure facility. After one growing season, root biomass, fine root (<2 mm) nutrient concentrations and ratios, and fine root morphology were assessed.

Results

Nitrogen addition resulted in an up to +100.5% increase in coarse and fine root biomass under AA, and only up to +46.3% increase under 2.0 x AA. Elevated O3 and P addition had a positive effect, while N had a negative effect on P concentrations in fine roots. Nitrogen limitation for root growth expressed as a N:P ratio was more pronounced at elevated O3. Nitrogen addition increased root surface area per soil volume by +78.3% at AA and only by +9.9% at 2.0 x AA.

Conclusions

Smaller root surface area per soil volume at elevated O3 prevented acquisition of available N, rendering N fertilization of young poplar plantations in such conditions economically and environmentally questionable.

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Acknowledgements

Melita Hrenko from the Department of Tree Physiology and Genetics of Slovenian Forestry Institute and students from Biotechnical Centre Naklo, Slovenia, are acknowledged for cleaning, scanning and weighing of poplar roots. Moreno Lazzara, Alessandro Materassi and Gianni Fasano are greatly acknowledged for support during field work with the ozone FACE.

Funding

The study was funded by Slovenian Research Agency Research Programme P4-0407, LIFEGENMON (LIFE ENV/SI/000148) co-financed by the European LIFE financial programme, the national ministries in Slovenia, Germany and Greece and all project beneficiaries, the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze (2013/7956) and the LIFE15 ENV/IT/000183 project MOTTLES.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Slovenian Forestry Institute, Večna pot 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Tanja Mrak, Klemen Eler & Hojka Kraigher

  2. Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva ulica 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Klemen Eler

  3. National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Dracea” (INCDS), Eroilor Blvd. 128, 077190, Voluntari, Romania

    Ovidiu Badea

  4. Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering, Transilvania University of Braşov, 500123, Braşov, Romania

    Ovidiu Badea

  5. Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy

    Yasutomo Hoshika, Elisa Carrari & Elena Paoletti

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  1. Tanja Mrak
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  2. Klemen Eler
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Correspondence to Tanja Mrak.

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Mrak, T., Eler, K., Badea, O. et al. Elevated ozone prevents acquisition of available nitrogen due to smaller root surface area in poplar. Plant Soil 450, 585–599 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04510-7

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