Nutrient status and crop productivity following a 14-year irrigated potato rotation study

Abstract

K. 2015. Nutrient status and crop productivity following a 14-year irrigated potato rotation study. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 351Á360. Well-managed crop rotations contribute to high productivity and quality in subsequent crops, and neither excessively deplete nor increase soil nutrient levels. A field experiment was conducted in the year following completion of a 14-yr irrigated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) rotation study to assess the impact of preceding rotation on soil P, K and micronutrient concentrations, and on soybean (Glycine max) productivity, yield and seed nutrient levels. Soybean was grown on six established rotations [potato with canola (PC), wheat (PW), canolaÁwheat (PCW), oat-wheat (POW), wheatÁcanolaÁwheat (PWCW), and canola underseeded to alfalfaÁalfalfaÁalfalfa (PCAA)] arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates. Soil nutrient levels fell within ranges typical of the region, as did soybean yield and quality. Lower P and K concentrations in spring soil samples, and in soybean seeds, were typically associated with PCAA, suggesting that fertilizer additions did not account for high rates of P and K removal by alfalfa hay in this rotation. While preceding rotation had minimal effects on soil Cu and Zn, soybean established after PCAA or after potato contained comparatively higher seed Cu and Zn concentrations suggesting that including mycorrhizal crops such as potato and alfalfa in rotation may have contributed to enhanced micronutrient availability. Soybean yield was 4Á6% higher following potato than canola or cereals, and 6% higher following POW than PCW. Seed protein increased and oil concentration decreased where preceding rotations included alfalfa. The limited yield differences observed may have been due, in part, to the selection of soybean as an indicator crop, which likely minimized differences among rotations arising from disease, weeds and nitrogen. These findings suggest that, with careful management of irrigated potato systems over the longer term, crop productivity and nutrient availability may be maintained within acceptable levels for agricultural production. Bien ge´re´s, les assolements concourent a`une productivite´et aù ne qualite´e´leve´es des cultures subse´quentes; ils n'appauvrissent et n'enrichissent pas davantage excessivement le sol. Les auteurs ont proce´de´a`une expe´rience sur le terrain l'anne´e suivant l'ache`vement d'une e´tude de 14 ans sur un assolement de pomme de terre (Solanum tuberosum L.) avec irrigation. L'objectif consistait a`e´valuer l'impact de l'assolement ante´rieur sur la concentration de P, de K et d'oligoe´le´ments dans le sol ainsi que sur la productivite´du soja (Glycine max), son rendement et la concentration de nutriments dans la graine. Le soja a e´te´cultive´sur six assolements [pomme de terre avec canola (PC), ble´(PB), canola-ble´(PCB), avoine-ble´(PAB), ble´-canola-ble´(PBCB) et canola avec semis sous couverture de luzerne-luzerne-luzerne (PCLL)] dans un dispositif en blocs ale´atoires complets avec quatre re´pe...

Impact of Crop Sequence and Fertilization on Potato Yield in a Long-Term Study

“…Taking into account producers’ income, potato cultivation may bring higher profits than other crops. However, longer crop rotations can increase soil productivity, maintain or even increase plant yield (profitability) and reduce the build-up of diseases, weeds and pests [ 46 , 47 , 48 ]. This will reduce the amount of fertilizers and pesticides used and thus lower costs in the long term [ 49 , 50 , 51 ].…”

Soil changes over 12 years of conventional vs. conservation management on irrigated rotations in southern Alberta

“…In New Brunswick, Rees et al (2014) found that an application rate as low as 4 Mg ha −1 yr −1 of fresh poultry manure for 3 yr significantly increased soil P (but did not increase SOC). In the absence of organic amendments, Mohr et al (2015) successfully maintained soil P below agronomic threshold for potato rotations which included wheat, canola (Brassica napus L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in Manitoba.…”