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Evaluation of Nitrogen Supply Rate Measured by in situ Placement of Plant Root Simulator™ Probes as a Predictor of Nitrogen Supply from Soil and Organic Amendments in Potato Crop

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Abstract

Nitrogen (N) supply from organic sources to the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crop is difficult to predict and to synchronize with crop demand. In this study, Plant Root Simulator™ (PRS™) probes were evaluated as a tool for prediction of N supply from two rates (300 vs. 600 kg N ha−1) of either a hog manure-sawdust compost (HMC) or a pelletized dehydrated poultry manure (NW) in Atlantic Canada. The cumulative PRS mineral N supply rate (PRS-N) measured for the period of 31 days after planting (DAP), soil mineral N at 10 DAP and soil NO3-N at 31 DAP were closely related to plant N uptake (PNU) (r = 0.77, 0.71 and 0.73, respectively; P < 0.001) and PNU plus soil mineral N to 30 cm depth at tuber harvest (PNU + SMNh) (r = 0.77, 0.81 and 0.74, respectively; P < 0.001). The supply of N from organic sources to a potato crop can be predicted by PRS-N early in the growing season.

Resumen

El suministro de nitrógeno (N) a partir de fuentes orgánicas al cultivo papa (Solanum tuberosum L.) es difícil de predecir y de sincronizar con la demanda del cultivo. En este estudio, se evaluaron las sondas Plant Root Simulator™ (PRS™) como una herramienta de predicción del suministro de N a partir de dos dosis (300 vs. 600 kg N ha-1) de compost de estiércol de cerdo y aserrín (HMC) o gránulos comprimidos de estiércol deshidratado de aves de corral (NW) en la costa atlántica de Canadá. La tasa acumulada de suministro de N mineral PRS (N-PRS) medida para el período de 31 días después de la siembra (DAP), de N mineral del suelo a 10 DAP y de NO3-N del suelo a 31 DAP están estrechamente relacionadas con la absorción de N por la planta (PNU) ( r = 0.77, 0.71 y 0.73, respectivamente, P < 0.001) y PNU más el N mineral del suelo a 30 cm. de profundidad a la cosecha del tubérculo (PNU + SMNh) (r = 0.77, 0.81 y 0.74, respectivamente, P < 0.001). Se puede predecir el suministro de N a partir de fuentes orgánicas al cultivo de papa mediante PRS-N temprano en la temporada de crecimiento.

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Abbreviations

DAP:

Days after planting

HMC300 and HMC600:

Hog manure-sawdust compost at application rate of 300 and 600 kg total N ha−1, respectively

NW300 and NW600:

Pelletized dehydrated poultry manure (Nutriwave) at application rate of 300 and 600 kg total N ha−1, respectively

PNU:

Total plant N uptake measured at vine mechanical removal

PNU + SMNh :

Total plant N uptake measured at vine mechanical removal plus soil mineral N in 0–30 cm depth at tuber harvest

PRS-N, PRS-NH4 and PRS-NO3 :

Total N, NH4-N and NO3-N supply rates measured using Plant Root Simulator™ probes buried in situ, respectively

SMN:

Soil mineral N at 0–30 cm depth

SMNh :

Soil mineral N at 0–30 cm depth measured at tuber harvest

SMNp :

Soil mineral N at 0–30 cm depth measured before planting

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Acknowledgments

Research funding was provided by the Prince Edward Island Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry, the New Brunswick Dept. of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) program, Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada at NSAC, and Canada Research Chairs program. The authors wish to thank F. Dollar, owner of Kentdale Farms, Winslow, for his participation in this study. Excellent field technical assistance was provided by K. MacNeil, A. Runnels, H. Purves, B. van de Pol and S. Urbaniak. Recommendations and advice from Dr. A. Hammermeister are acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant and Animal Sciences, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, PO Box 550, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada

    Mehdi Sharifi, Derek H. Lynch & Zhiming Zheng

  2. Potato Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, PO Box 20280, Fredericton, NB, E3B 4Z7, Canada

    Bernie J. Zebarth

  3. Department of Plant and Animal Sciences, Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, PO Box 550, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada

    Ralph C. Martin

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  1. Mehdi Sharifi
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Correspondence to Mehdi Sharifi.

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Sharifi, M., Lynch, D.H., Zebarth, B.J. et al. Evaluation of Nitrogen Supply Rate Measured by in situ Placement of Plant Root Simulator™ Probes as a Predictor of Nitrogen Supply from Soil and Organic Amendments in Potato Crop. Am. J. Pot Res 86, 356–366 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-009-9090-2

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