Water and Nitrogen Management Effects on Biomass Accumulation and Partitioning in Two Potato Cultivars

Abstract

Biomass accumulation and partitioning into different plant parts is a dynamic process during the plant growing period, which is influenced by crop management and climate factors. Adequate knowledge of biomass partitioning is important to manage the crops to gain maximum partitioning of assimilates into plant parts of economic significance, i.e. tubers in potato. This study was conducted using two potato cultivars grown in a sandy soil with center pivot irrigation under full irrigation (FI; irrigation to replenish 100% of water loss by evapotranspiration [ET]) and deficit irrigation (DI; replenish only 80% ET) and two nitrogen(N) rates (pre-plant + in-season N rates of 56 + 112 or 168 + 336 kg/ha). Plant samples were taken on 22, 44, 66, and 98 days after seedling emergence (DAE). With high N rate, tuber biomass of "Umatilla Russet" cultivar in relation to total plant biomass varied from 23% -88% and 25% -86% over 22 to 98 DAE for the FI and DI treatments, respectively. The corresponding partitioning ranges were 30% -93% and 38% -93% at the low N rate. With respect to the "Ranger Russet" cultivar, biomass partitioning to tubers ranged from 36% -82% and 23% -84% for the FI and DI, respectively, at the high N rate, and 29% -87% and 39% -95% at the low N rate. Overall, this study demonstrated that within the range of N rate and irrigation treatments the biomass portioning into tubers was largely similar in both cultivars.

Residue Mulch Effects on Potato Productivity and Irrigation and Nitrogen Economy in a Subtropical Environment

“…Therefore, management interventions should involve rational use of water and N in order to optimize crop productivity and minimize the risk of N leaching. Extensive research has been conducted to assess interactive effects of water and N on potato productivity in different regions of the world (Ojala et al 1990;Nimah et al 2000;Alva et al 2012), and empirical and simulation analysis of water productivity and N use efficiency has been carried out (Ferreira and Goncalves 2007;Badr et al 2012;Arora et al 2013). These analyses suggest that it is essential to exploit interaction effects to maximize resource use efficiency.…”

The Effect of Super-Absorbent Polymer and Sowing Depth on Growth and Yield Indices of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) in Hamedan Province, Iran

“…SAP can increase the growth and yield of crops by increasing the absorption and maintenance of water in soil, storage of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and exchangeable cations, as well as increasing ventilation by improving soil structure (Nazarli et al, 2010). Other researchers reported a decrease in yield, yield components including number of tubers per crop, and the average weight of the tuber per crop, as well as reduced water use efficiency due to the application of water stresses (Alva et al, 2012;Liu et al, 2006;Ayas, 2013).…”

Does Elemental Sulfur Act as an Effective Measure to Control the Seasonal Growth Dynamics of Potato Tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.)?

“…It is well-documented that too low an N supply to potatoes in the period of its early growth may result in a reduction of the photosynthetic area of the plants. On the other hand, too high an N rate may disturb plant growth and the processes of potato tuberization [ 4 , 18 , 19 ]. Another agronomic solution focused on the effective control of the N supply is the use of elementary S (S 0 ).…”