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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Orono, Maine » New England Plant, Soil and Water Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #207808
Title: Effectiveness and Efficacy of Soil Conservation Practices in Potato Production

Author
item Griffin, Timothy
item Honeycutt, Charles
item Starr, Gordon

Submitted to: Northeast Potato Technology Forum Abstracts
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/6/2007
Publication Date: 3/14/2007
Citation: Griffin, T.S., Honeycutt, C.W., Starr, G.C. 2007. Effectiveness and Efficacy of Soil Conservation Practices in Potato Production. Northeast Potato Technology Forum Abstracts. CD-ROM

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Potato production systems in the Northeast U.S. are characterized by intensive tillage, minimal ground cover, low crop residue return, and steep slopes. Soil conservation can be especially challenging after potato harvest. We used rainfall simulators in the greenhouse and field to assess sediment and P movement associated with three conservation practices: straw mulching, interseeding barley before potato harvest, and application of polyacrylamide (PAM). Increasing straw mulch biomass (up to 3400 lb/acre) resulted in decreases in sediment and P loss. Mulch applied at rates as low as 750 lb/acre provided nearly 50% ground cover and reduced sediment movement by more than 50%. Higher application rates reduced sediment loss by up to 95%. Linear increases in PAM application rate (to 20 lb/acre) also reduced sediment loss. The efficacy of this practice decreases slightly with successive rainfall events, but still had significant benefit through four simulated rainfalls in the greenhouse and three rainfall events in the field. Live barley biomass was also effective at reducing sediment and P movement, although high seeding rates are needed to overcome the lack of tillering in fall-planted barley. Most of the P loss was comprised of sediment-bound P. All three conservation practices are effective at reducing soil and nutrient loss in intensive potato systems.