Factors affecting the magnesium nutrition of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)

Abstract

Between 1995 and 1999, eight response experiments tested the effects of magnesium (Mg) fertilizers on the yield of potato crops grown in East Anglia, the Midlands, the West and Southwest of England. In addition, a further six experiments tested the effects of varying nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) supply on the tuber concentrations and uptake of Mg by potato crops. The experiments were done on soils that contained varying amounts of exchangeable Mg and K but were still typical of soils used for potato production.In the eight response experiments, use of Mg fertilizer had no effect on total tuber fresh weight yield even though yields were often much larger than the national average yield. Increasing the N supply to the crop was often associated with an increase in the concentration of Mg in leaves and stems. This may have been due to N facilitating Mg uptake or a consequence of N delaying canopy senescence and, thus, delaying the translocation of Mg from haulm to tubers. Compared with the effects of N, varying the Mg and K supply to the crop had small and inconsistent effects on crop Mg uptake. Since the experiments also showed that Ca supply and soil K[ratio ]Mg ratio had no effect on crop yield and erratic effects on tissue Mg concentration, fertilizer recommendation systems based on ratios of nutrients in the soil cannot be endorsed. When these current experiments and older, published experiments are taken into account there is little justification for applying Mg fertilizer to soils with Mg Indices > 0 and on soils with Mg Index 0 an application of c. 50 kg Mg/ha would be sufficient.

Effect of foliar spray with lithovit and amino acids on growth, bioconstituents, anatomical and yield features of soybean plant

“…Lithovit also contains nano-Mg, magnesium is an essential nutrient for plant growth and plays an important role in many plant physiological processes such as photosynthesis (Mg is the central element of the chlorophyll molecule), sugar synthesis, starch translocation, formation of plant oils and fats, control of nutrient uptake, increase iron utilization and aid nitrogen fixation in legume nodules. It also works as an enzyme activator, a constituent of many enzymes and a carrier of phosphorus in the plant, (Marschner, 1995;Allison et al, 2001 andHaq andMallarino 2005).…”

Relationships Between Yield and Mineral Concentrations in Potato Tubers

“…Yields of potatoes have increased significantly over the last 50 years as a result of the widespread use of fungicides, fertilizers, and irrigation. The application of mineral fertilizers to the potato crop accelerates plant growth and increases tuber yield (e.g., Allison et al, 2001aAllison et al, , 2001bAllison et al, , 2001cBirch et al, 1967;Eppendorfer et al, 1979;Harris, 1992;Johnston et al, 1986;Neeteson and Wadman, 1987;Simmons and Kelling, 1987;Trehan and Sharma, 2003;White et al, 2005). It is evident that applying nitrogen (N) fertilizers increases tuber N concentrations (e.g., Augustin, 1975;Eppendorfer et al, 1979;Harris, 1992; Sen Tran and Giroux, 1991), applying P fertilizers increases tuber P concentrations (Allison et al, 2001a;Alvarez-Sánchez et al, 1999;Hammond and White, 2005;Rocha et al, 1997;Simpson, 1962;Trehan and Sharma, 2003), applying K fertilizers increases tuber K concentrations (Addiscott, 1976;Allison et al, 2001b;Harris, 1992;Maier, 1986), and applying Ca or Mg fertilizers increases tuber Ca (Bamberg et al, 1993(Bamberg et al, , 1998Clough, 1994;Karlsson et al, 2006;Kelman, 1984, 1986;Simmons and Kelling, 1987) and Mg concentrations (Allison et al, 2001c), respectively.…”

“…In addition, the application of these fertilizers can also affect the concentrations of other mineral elements in tubers. For example, although the application of N fertilizers often has little effect on tuber K, Ca, and Mg concentrations, it can lead to a decrease in tuber Fe and P concentrations (Allison et al, 2001c;Augustin, 1975;Harris, 1992;Simpson, 1962), the application of P fertilizers can increase tuber N and Mg concentrations but may reduce tuber Mn concentrations (Hammond and White, 2005), the application of K fertilizers often, but not always, increases tuber Mg but reduces tuber Ca and P concentrations (Addiscott, 1974(Addiscott, , 1976Allison et al, 2001c;Maier, 1986), and the application of Ca fertilizers generally reduces tuber Mg concentrations but can increase tuber P, S, and K concentrations (Clough, 1994;Simmons and Kelling, 1987). These effects are the result not only of complex interactions between mineral elements in the soil and their consequences for uptake by plants, but also of the effects of tissue mineral composition on the redistribution of elements within the plant.…”

Effect of Foliar Spray With Lithovit on Dry Weight Productivity and Storability of Two Garlic Cultivars

“…Lithovit also contains nano-Mg, where magnesium is an essential nutrient for plant gridgeth and plays an important role in many plant physiological processes, such as photosynthesis (Mg is the central element of the chlorophyll molecule), sugar synthesis, starch translocation, control of nutrient uptake. It also works as an enzyme activator, a constituent of many enzymes and a carrier of phosphorus in the plant (Allison et al, 2001).…”