Potatoes are produced on approximately 20,000 acres each year in eastern North Carolina. Most of these soils are very poorly drained mucks, silt loams, and sandy loams. Maintaining high yield potential on these soils requires fertilizing and liming.
Potatoes are produced on approximately 20,000 acres each year in eastern North Carolina. Most of these soils are very poorly drained mucks, silt loams, and sandy loams. Maintaining high yield potential on these soils requires fertilizing and liming.
Potatoes are produced on approximately 20,000 acres each year in eastern North Carolina. Most of these soils are very poorly drained mucks, silt loams, and sandy loams. Maintaining high yield potential on these soils requires fertilizing and liming.
acres each year in eastern North Carolina. Most of these soils are very poorly drained mucks, silt loams, and sandy loams with artificial drainage using a network of field ditches and canals. Identifying Nutrient Needs Soil Testing for Lime, P, K, Mg, and Micronutrients. Maintaining high yield potential on these soils requires fertilizing and liming based on soil test results. (See SoilFacts: Careful Soil Sampling, the Key to Reliable Soil Test Information; and SoilFacts: Soil Sampling for Precision Farming Systems.) Soil testing services are free to North Carolina farmers at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Agronomic Division Laboratory. Because the potato is one of our earliest-planted crops (February to March), and because the public laboratory turnaround time is slower in the winter, potato producers should submit soil samples in October or November to have results in time. Producers who submit samples to private laboratories for faster analysis can interpret their results more easily if they request a Mehlich-3 extractant and specify the appropriate target pH (mineral soil: 6.0, mineral-organic soil: 5.5, organic soil: 5.0). Diagnostic Plant Tissue Analysis and Problem Soil Sampling. Plant tissue analysis can be used to evaluate the nutrient status of potatoes. Corrective measures are most likely to be practical if the problems are nitrogen or micronutrient deficiencies detected by early bloom. Even if plant tissue data are obtained too late to apply corrective measures to the current crop, they will help in deciding whether to adjust the current fertilizer management strategy for future crops. Table 1 shows nutrient sufficiency ranges, which are based on research trials conducted at various locations in the U.S. and around the world. They appear reasonable based on field observations and problem samples, but they might not adequately reflect all North Carolina conditions. Soil pH and Liming Failure to maintain a desirable soil pH damages roots and makes nutrients and water less available to plants. This common problem can be avoided by sampling the soil carefully every 2 to 3 years, and by liming as needed with a calibrated spreader truck. SoilFacts Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. Soil Fertility Management for Irish Potato Production in Eastern North Carolina Figure 1. Irish potatoes are grown on approximately 20,000 acres each year in east- ern North Carolina. SoilFacts 2 Fertilizer Recommendations Nitrogen (N) Management. The recommended nitrogen rate for loams, silt loams, and organic soils is 100 to 150 pounds per acre (all at planting). On sandier soils (sandy loams and loamy sands), 150 pounds of N per acre are recommended, split between 50 pounds of N per acre at planting and 100 pounds of N per acre at sidedress. Responses to N in several tests suggest that rates as low as 50 to 100 pounds per acre are adequate for optimum yields (Figure 2). One study in Virginia found that 50 pounds of N per acre were sufficient for 380 hundredweight per acre yields of irrigated Superior potatoes. Our recommendation is higher, 100 to 150 pounds of N per acre instead of 50 to 100 pounds of N per acre, because residual N levels cannot be accurately measured and they vary widely depending on rotational crops, weather, and soil type. Interestingly, excess N might limit the ability of potato plants to compensate for reduced plant density. The 1997 Tidewater Research Station test (Plymouth, N.C.) found that Atlantic seedpieces spaced 12 inches apart yielded less than seedpieces spaced 9 inches apart, except at the lower N rates (50 and 100 pounds of N per acre) (Figure 2). High N rates are known to delay tuber initiation, perhaps preventing plants from developing into the extra soil volume available at reduced densities. Macronutrient Management. Crops are nourished by residual soil nutri- ents and by fertilizer. A soil test measures residual soil nutrient levels and uses calibration research to recommend fertilizer rates. Plants typically respond favorably to the addition of a specific fertilizer nutrient only up to a certain nutrient availability level (Figure 3). Addi- tional fertilizer beyond this point is not beneficial and can even harm plant growth if concentrations are in the excess range. Although phosphorus (P) and potas- sium (K) are essential plant nutrients, residual soil levels of both are high in many North Carolina fields. Several field tests have shown a lack of response to fertilizer P and K when residual soil test levels were high (Figures 4a, 4b). Table 1. Nutrient sufficiency ranges and toxicity thresholds for potato leaf, petiole, and tuber tissues summarized from numerous references, production regions, and potato varieties.
Nutrient Leaf 1
(early bloom) Leaf 1
(late) Petiole (early bloom) Tuber (maturity) N (%) 3.5-4.5, toxic >6.5 3.0-4.0 >1.5 (nitrate-N) 1.2-1.8 P (%) 0.25-0.6, toxic >1.25 0.2-0.4 0.3-0.5 0.20-0.24 K (%) 3.5-5.0, toxic >6.5 4.0-8.0 5.1-7.0 1.9-2.1 Ca (%) 0.6-2.0 1.0-2.5 0.6-2.5 >0.057 Mg (%) 0.3-0.6 0.3-0.6 0.5-0.8 0.11-0.13 S (%) 0.2-0.5 0.2-0.5 0.2-0.5 0.11-0.17 B (ppm) 25-50, toxic >55 25-50 15-39 Fe (ppm) 40-200, toxic >500 40-150 70-250 Mn (ppm) 40-200, toxic >400 25-200 20-200 Cu (ppm) 5-20, toxic >50 5-20 6-30 Zn (ppm) 25-60, toxic >150 25-50 20-70, toxic >150 1 Whole leaves (blade + petiole) of uppermost mature leaf, usually fourth leaf from tip. References: Walworth and Muniz, 1993; Maynard and Hochmuth, 1997; Wichmann; Plank, 1989. '97 Tidewater Station '96, Tidewater Station 12" spacing 9" spacing '97, Pamlico '96 Pasquotank 0 100 200 Fertilizer N (lb N/acre) 0 100 200 300 M a r k e t a b l e
T u b e r
Y i e l d ( c w t / a c r e ) Figure 2. Tuber yield response to N in field experiments. For the 1997 Tidewa- ter Research Station (Plymouth, N.C.) data, yields are reported for different seedpiece spacing and N rates. Error bars denote significant yield differences within an experiment at the 95 percent confidence level. Figure 3. Typical response curve of crops to nutrient supply levels. Likely to respond to fertilizer Not likely to respond to fertilizer D e f i c i e n t L o w S u f f i c i e n t H i g h E x c e s s Typical Nutrient Response Curve 0 50 1 00 1 50 200 Increasing Nutrient Availability 0 20 40 60 80 100 Y i e l d
( %
o f
m a x i m u m )Likely to respond to fertilizer Not likely to respond to fertilizer Likely to respond to fertilizer Not likely to respond to fertilizer D e f i c i e n t L o w S u f f i c i e n t H i g h E x c e s s Typical Nutrient Response Curve 0 50 1 00 1 50 200 Increasing Nutrient Availability 0 20 40 60 80 100 Y i e l d
( %
o f
m a x i m u m ) Soil Fertility Management for Irish Potato Production in Eastern North Carolina 3 Low rates of P in a starter band may still stimulate growth because soils are usually cold and wet when potatoes are planted, reducing root exploration for P. Recent price surveys suggest 10 gallons per acre of 10-34-0 will cost approximately $12 per acre for material, in addition to any application costs or hardware upgrades. Starter bands should be placed at least 2 inches to the side and 2 inches below seedpieces to avoid damaging tubers and sprouts. Fertil- izer K is highly soluble and should not be applied in bands to avoid salt stress problems. Calcium and magnesium levels are most easily maintained by liming according to soil test recommenda- tions. There is a soil test for sulfur (S), but this element often leaches to subsoils, so test results must be interpreted cautiously. Adequate S levels might be available to plants in a shallow subsoil layer even if surface soil tests show low levels. This is especially true of soils with a thin, sandy surface and an underlying clay horizon within 6 to 12 inches of the surface. No routine application of S is recommended for potatoes, as sufficient S is often supplied residu- ally or through breakdown of organic matter. Figure 4a. Potato response to P fertilizer on commercial fields with high residual P levels. Letters denote significant yield differences within an experiment at the 95 percent confidence level. Fertilizer P (lb P 2 O 5 /acre) b' a c' a a' a Pamlico Co., '96 P index = 289 Pasquotank Co., '97 P index = 405 0 75 150 0 100 200 300 400 500 T u b e r
Y i e l d
( c w t / a c r e ) Fertilizer P (lb P 2 O 5 /acre) b' a c' a a' a Pamlico Co., '96 P index = 289 Pasquotank Co., '97 P index = 405 0 75 150 0 100 200 300 400 500 T u b e r
Y i e l d
( c w t / a c r e ) a' a a' a a' a Pamlico Co., '96 K index = 139 Pasquotank Co., '97 K index = 118 2 0 100 200 300 400 500 T u b e r
Y i e l d
( c w t / a c r e ) 0 75 150 Fertilizer K (lb K O/acre) Figure 4b. Potato response to K fertilizer on commercial fields with high residual K levels. Letters denote significant yield dif- ferences within an experiment at the 95 percent confidence level. Micronutrient Management. Soil test recommendations also can be used to prescribe any manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) applications. Currently, there is no soil test for boron (B) in North Carolina. Plant tissue analysis at early bloom can detect micronutrient deficiencies in time for corrective foliar applications. Micronutrients should be applied only as needed to avoid toxicity and unnecessary costs. Note that the recommended rates depend on the nutrient form and application method (Table 2). Economic Considerations of Different Fertilizer Management Strategies Several strategies are available for soil fertility management (Table 3). Although many farmers apply fertilizer based on standard rates (alternative a) or crop removal (alternative b), these fail to account for residual soil nutrients, thus adding unnecessary expenses. Soil testing (alternative c) should be the basis for any soil fertility management pro- gram. This can correct soil pH and nutrient deficiency problems before the crop is planted. In addition, Table 2. Common micronutrient sources and recommendations to correct nutrient deficiencies. (This table is for general information purposes only and does not imply that numerous other products not listed are less suitable. Apply micronutrients only as needed to avoid toxicity.)
Element
Source Concentration (% by weight) Rate (pounds of element per acre) Broadcast Banded Foliar Boron (B) Borax 0.8 0.2 Solubor 20 0.8 0.2 Sodium tetraborate 14-20 0.8 Organic complex B+N 3 0.2 Copper (Cu) Cu sulfate 1 25-35 2-6 2 1-3 2 0.25 (add lime) Cu oxide 75 2-6 2 1-3 2
Cu chelate 9-13 2-6 2 1-3 2 0.25 Manganese (Mn) Mn sulfate 23-28 10 3 0.5 Mn oxide 40-68 10 3 Mn chelate 5-12 10 3 0.5 Zinc (Zn) Zn sulfate 1 23-55 6 3 0.5 (add lime) Zn oxide 3 50-80 6 (fine) 3 (fine) Zn chelate 9-14 6 3 0.5 1 For foliar applications of Cu and Zn sulfates, dissolve lime in the solution to neutralize acidity and avoid leaf burn.
2 If broadcasting Cu, apply 2 lb/ac to mineral soils, 4 lb/ac for mineral-organic soils, and 6 lb/ac for organic soils. For banded applications, apply half as much. 3 Zinc oxide must be finely ground to be effective. SoilFacts 4 residual nutrient levels can be as- sessed. If nutritional problems are suspected after planting, soil testing and plant tissue analysis (alternative d) can be used as diagnostic tools. Excess fertilizer applications are expensive and do not increase returns. Our calculations show the potential for many farmers to save more than $60 per acre by switching from the specified standard rate to a soil test- based management strategy. Special Topics Organic Soils. Organic soils, where potatoes are frequently planted, have naturally low pH and high cation exchange capacity (CEC) and may have an abundance of buried logs near the surface. They require a lot of lime to raise soil pH, and a lot of labor to remove logs and reshape the land. Due to these costs, many organic soils have received only shallow tillage in the past, so subsoil acidity is a common limitation. Incorporating lime by tillage is important in developing a productive root zone in these soils. Producers should scout their fields periodically to see whether root development is limited. Deeper tillage should be considered if pH is below the target level in the shallow subsoil (4 to 8 inches deep), if a hard pan can be felt at this depth, and if an inspection of plant roots suggests plants do not have access to at least an 8-inch root zone. Since deeper tillage mixes the more acidic subsoil into the rooting zone, additional lime will be required. Excess Fertilizer Salts. Greenhouse trials and diagnosis of problems in the field have documented concerns with excess fertilizer salts. Fertilizing at rates beyond recommendations can result in excess salts, which depress shoot emergence and growth (Figure 5a). Delayed development due to salt stress can decrease the plants ability to cope with other common stresses, such as diseases, weeds, insects, and air pollution. The productivity of rotational crops such as soybean and wheat can even be diminished due to excess residual fertilizer salts from potatoes. Grain sorghum is a rela- tively salt-tolerant crop that can be grown after potato with no additional P or K, and a 50 percent reduction in the normal N fertilizer rate (see Note 3 in Crop Fertilization Based on North Carolina Soil Tests). Our survey of commercial potato fields in North Carolina found numerous cases of poor potato stands (Figure 5b) and elevated soil P, K, and soluble salt levels, which we attribute to fertilizer applications exceeding soil test recommendations and crop removal rates (Table 4). Table 3. Soil fertility management strategies. Strategy Comments Cost ($/ac) 1
a. Standard rate: commonly 1000 pounds of 17-17-17 per acre (170 lb N, 170 lb P2O5, 170 lb K2O) Fails to account for residual soil nutrients, causes greater expense than needed, can result in excess fertilizer salts. $84.34 b. Crop-removal-based rate: for 300 hundredweight per acre apply 90 lb N, 48 lb P2O5, 159 lb K2O per acre Supplies nutrients in needed ratio, but fails to account for residual soil nutrients, which might be sufficient for crop needs. $40.44 c. Soil-test-based rate Considers residual soil nutrients, nutrient response curves, soil pH. Avoids excess fertilizer expense. Depends on needs: 100 lb N, 0 lb P2O5, 60 lb K2O/ac: $34.13 100 lb N, 0 lb P2O5, 0 lb K2O/ac: $21.70 d. Soil testing and plant tissue sampling Verifies quality of soil test recommendations and confirms status of nitrogen, sulfur, and boron. Depends on needs
1 Costs include materials and application, and are based on a survey of local fertilizer prices (17-17-17: $161/ton; 0-0-60: $149/ton; 30% N solution: $130/ton; application: $5/ac).
b' b' a' c' a a ab b Shoot Emergence Shoot Weight 0 20 40 60 80 100 Extractable Soluble Salts (NCDA index value) 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 S h o o t
E m e r g e n c e
( n u m b e r / p l a n t ) 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 T o t a l
S h o o t
W e i g h t
( g / p l a n t ) Figure 5a. Inhibitory effects of excess fertilizer salt on emergence and early development of potatoes in the green- house. Letters denote significant differences at the 95 percent confidence level. Figure 5b. Poor stands are common in North Carolina potato fields. Soil Fertility Management for Irish Potato Production in Eastern North Carolina 5 Excess Fertilizer and Premature Vine Decline. The use of high rates of banded fertilizers is one of many potential causes of premature vine decline of potato plants (Figure 6, Table 5). In the case illustrated, an estimated 20 percent yield reduction was associated with soils that had high soluble salt levels in the top 4 inches. This field had received a banded application of 180 pounds of N, 180 pounds of P 2 O 5 , and 180 pounds of K 2 O per acre with no additional tillage to incorporate the fertilizer throughout the rooting zone. Figure 6. Potato premature vine decline (early dying). Figure 7a. Rhizoctonia stem canker of Irish potato. Figure 7b. Rhizoctonia stem canker incidence increased as the fertilizer N rate increased. Letters denote signifi- cant differences within an experiment at the 95 percent confidence level. b' ab' ab' a' a a a a Pasquotank Co., '96 Tidewater Research Station, '96 0 20 40 60 80 R h i z o c t o n i a
S t e m
C a n k e r
I n c i d e n c e
( % ) 120 150 180 90 Fertilizer N (lb N/acre) Summary Testing soils and applying recom- mended rates of lime and fertilizer are the first steps to obtaining yield potentials and reducing risk of salt damage. Broadcasting most fertilizer, and limiting band applications to low rates of N-P starter solution, further reduces salinity. If residual fertilizer is found to be highly concentrated in a shallow topsoil layer, deep tillage can reduce the potential for salt damage to sensitive rotational crops. Soil fertility maintenance based on soil testing and plant analysis is profitable because it is the key to high yields and good tuber quality. It also reduces unneces- sary fertilizer expenses and problems with excess nutrients. Excess Nitrogen and Disease Susceptibility. Excess fertilizer N can favor diseases such as Rhizoctonia stem canker (Figures 7a, 7b) and Erwinia soft rot, reduce tuber specific gravity and starch content, and degrade flavor. Table 4. Soil test results from a survey of 46 eastern North Carolina commercial Irish potato fields. Calibration research shows that response to additional fertilizer P or K is unlikely if the soil test P or K index is >50.
Soil test parameter
Mean index value Samples with index above 50 (%) Samples with index above 100 (%) P 312 100 96 K 162 100 80 Soluble salts 62 66 6
Table 5. Soil test results from a field with premature vine decline (early dying) in Pasquotank County in 1997. Fertilizer (180 lb N-180 lb P 2 O 5 -180 lb K 2 O per acre) applied in a shallow subsurface band led to high soluble salt levels in the surface soil layer. Field area Soil sample depth P index Soluble salts index 0-4 429 111 Affected 4-8 418 12 0-4 352 65 Normal 4-8 287 24
SoilFacts 2004 North Carolina State University Published by NORTH CAROLINA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION 12/03BS AGW-439-49 E03-42804 References Crozier, C. R., and R. W. Heiniger. 1998. SoilFacts: Soil Sampling for Precision Farming Systems. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Publication AG-439-36. NC State University, Raleigh, N.C. http://www.soil.ncsu.edu/publica- tions/Soilfacts/AG-439-36/ AG-439-36.pdf Cubeta, M. A., B. R. Cody, and P. C. Ceresini. 1998. Rhizoctonia disease of potato. Vegetable Disease Information Note No. 26, Department of Plant Pathology, NC State University, Raleigh, N.C. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/ plymouth/pubs/scurf.html Cubeta, M. A., N. G. Creamer, C. R. Crozier, D. Monks, and K. A. Sorensen. 1996. Potato Health Management in North Carolina. Vegetable Disease Information Note No. 23, Department of Plant Pathology, NC State University, Raleigh, N.C. http:// www.ces.ncsu.edu/plymouth/pubs/ potatoHealth.html Cubeta, M. A., N. G. Creamer, C. R. Crozier, D. Monks, and K. A. Sorensen. 1996. Potato Vine Premature Decline in North Carolina: Causes and Manage- ment. Vegetable Disease Information Note No. 24, Depart- ment of Plant Pathology, NC State University, Raleigh, N.C. http:// www.ces.ncsu.edu/plymouth/pubs/ potatoVine.html Maynard, D. N., and G. J. Hochmuth. 1997. Knotts Handbook for Vegetable Growers, 4 th ed. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. Osmond, D.L., C.R. Crozier, and D.H. Hardy. 1997. SoilFacts: Careful Soil Sampling-the Key to Reliable Soil Test Information. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Publication AG- 439-30. NC State University, Raleigh, N.C. http://www.soil. ncsu.edu/publications/Soilfacts/ AG-439-30/ Plank, C. O. 1989. Plant Analysis Handbook for Georgia. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, Athens, Ga. Sanders, D. C. (ed.). 2002. Vegetable Crop Guidelines for the Southeast- ern U.S.: 2002-2003. North Carolina Vegetable Growers Association, Raleigh, N.C., and Helena Chemical Co., Memphis, Tenn. Tucker, M. R., J. K. Messick, and C. C. Carter. 1997. Crop Fertiliza- tion Based on North Carolina Soil Tests, Agronomic Division Circu- lar No. 1. North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Agronomic Division, Raleigh, N.C. http:// www.ncagr.com/agronomi/ obook.htm Walworth, J. L., and J. E. Muniz. 1993. A compendium of tissue nutrient concentrations for field- grown potatoes. American Potato Journal 70:579-589. Wichmann, W. (undated). World Fertilizer Use Manual. Interna- tional Fertilizer Industry Association. http://www.fertilizer. org/ifa/ Prepared by Carl R. Crozier, Associate Professor and Extension Soil Science Specialist Nancy G. Creamer, Associate Professor and Extension Horticultural Science Specialist Marc A. Cubeta, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology