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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #59947
Title: POTATO RESPONSE TO SPLIT NITROGEN TIMING WITH VARYING AMOUNTS OF EXCESSIVE IRRIGATION

Author
item STARK, J - UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
item MC CANN, I - UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
item Westermann, Dale
item IZADI, B - UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
item TINDALL, T - UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/21/1993
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Irrigation and nitrogen management are two of the most important factors affecting production efficiency and environmental quality in potato cropping systems. Field studies were conducted in 1990 and 1991 to determine the interactive effects of irrigation amount and N timing on potato yield, quality and nitrate leaching potential. Sprinkler irrigation was applied at approximately 1.0, 1.2 or 1.4 times estimated evapotranspiration (ET) to Russet Burbank potatoes grown on a silt loam soil. Following tuber initiation, a total of 132 kg N/ha was applied through the irrigation system to N treatment subplots using either six weekly 22 kg N/ha applications or 3 biweekly 44 kg N/ha applications. Excessive irrigation reduced root zone and petiole N03-N concentrations during substantial portions of the tuber bulking period. Biweekly 44 kg N/ha applications in 1991 produced higher and more consistent early-season root zone N03-N concentrations in the 1.2 and 1.4 ET plots than did the weekly 22 kg N/ha applications. Late-season tuber dry weight, total plant dry weight and plant N uptake were not affected by irrigation rate or N timing. However, excessive irrigation reduced U.S No. 1 yield and yield of tubers >284 g in both 1990 and 1991 and reduced total yield in 1990. Biweekly N applications produced higher U.S. No 1 yields than weekly N applications at all irrigation levels. Excessive irrigation also reduced N03-N remaining in the top 60 cm of soil at the end of the growing season. These results show that irrigating at optimal rates and applying split N at two week intervals on a silt loam soil can maximize Russet Burbank yield and quality while minimizing N03-N losses.

Technical Abstract: Irrigation and nitrogen management are two of the most important factors affecting production efficiency and environmental quality in potato cropping systems. Field studies were conducted in 1990 and 1991 to determine the interactive effects of irrigation amount and N timing on potato yield, quality and nitrate leaching potential. Sprinkler irrigation was applied at approximately 1.0, 1.2 or 1.4 times estimated evapotranspiration (ET) to Russet Burbank potatoes grown on a silt loam soil. Following tuber initiation, a total of 132 kg N/ha was applied through the irrigation system to N treatment subplots using either six weekly 22 kg N/ha applications or 3 biweekly 44 kg N/ha applications. Excessive irrigation reduced root zone and petiole N03-N concentrations during substantial portions of the tuber bulking period. Biweekly 44 kg N/ha applications in 1991 produced higher and more consistent early-season root zone N03-N concentrations in the 1.2 and 1.4 ET plots than did the weekly 22 kg N/ha applications. Late-season tuber dry weight, total plant dry weight and plant N uptake were not affected by irrigation rate or N timing. However, excessive irrigation reduced U.S No. 1 yield and yield of tubers >284 g in both 1990 and 1991 and reduced total yield in 1990. Biweekly N applications produced higher U.S. No 1 yields than weekly N applications at all irrigation levels. Excessive irrigation also reduced N03-N remaining in the top 60 cm of soil at the end of the growing season. These results show that irrigating at optimal rates and applying split N at two week intervals on a silt loam soil can maximize Russet Burbank yield and quality while minimizing N03-N losses.