Nitrogen and potassium fertilization of potatoes: Evaluating nutrient element interactions in petioles with response surfaces

James, D.W. and Hurst, R.L. and Westermann, D.T. and Tindall, T.A. (1994) Nitrogen and potassium fertilization of potatoes: Evaluating nutrient element interactions in petioles with response surfaces. American Potato Journal. 71:249-265.

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Abstract

We studied the effects of fertilizer N and K rates on the nutrient concentrations
in petioles of Russet Burbank potato grown on a low-K, low-Cl, highly
calcareous Millville silt loam soil. Phosphate and CaSO4 were applied uniformly
so that P and S did not limit plant growth. An incomplete factorial experimental
design, utilizing 14 combinations of fertilizer N and K, including two forms
of K, was used to develop a multi-dimensional regression model. This model
was then used to produce response surfaces as an aid to analysis of the results
and to illustrate the fertilizer treatment effects and their interactions on petiole
chemistries. Nitrogen, K and Cl fertilizers had complex effects on petiole
concentrations of NO3-N, SO4-S, Cl, K, Ca and Mg. Nitrate-N and Cl were mutually
antagonistic. Soil N had a large positive effect on petiole K and Mg levels
and, to a lesser extent, petiole Ca levels. There was competition between K and
Mg in petiole concentration. The sum of K, Ca and Mg was essentially constant
across fertilizer treatments and sampling times. The sum of NO3-N, SO4-S and
Cl was highly variable. The ratio of cations to anions ranged between three and
five across fertilizer treatments and sampling times. The data indicate that calibration
of the major nutrient element concentrations in potato petioles, as a
guide to fertilization, requires knowledge of background soil fertility conditions
with respect to N, K, Cl, Ca and Mg, and an understanding of the antagonisms
and synergisms among these elements.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0837
Subjects:	Irrigated crops > Potato Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:53
Last Modified:	28 Nov 2016 19:04
Item ID:	617
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/617