09 Oct 2012

Response of potato to fertilizer application and nutrient use efficiency in Inner Mongolia


Inner Mongolia autonomous region (IMAR) is one of the major potato production area in China. The planted area of potato in IMAR is now about 760,000 ha and the total production is 9.55 million tons. The lower yield of potato is not only restricted by water shortage, but by imbalanced fertilizer application. To realize the potato response to fertilizer application and nutrient use efficiency is important for nutrient management for potato production in IMAR.
Field trials were conducted since 2002 in rainfed and irrigated potato in different regions in Inner Mongolia. Some soil physical and chemical properties were listed in Table 1. All the trials have four treatments including OPT treatment which was recommended based on soil testing by ASI procedures, and nutrient omitting plots, i.e. OPT-N, OPT-P, OPT-K.
Table 1 Physical and chemical properties of tested soils
Year
Site
Water regime
pH
OM
%
Mineral N mg/L
Olsen P
mg/L
Exchangeable K
mg/L
2002
WUC*
Rainfed
7.8
0.75
22.8
15.2
65.5
2003
WUC
Rainfed
8.6
1.2
28.0
13.1
77.0
2004
WUC
Rainfed
8.4
1.0
14.2
14.5
70.4
2004
WUC
Rainfed
8.5
1.0
8.5
18.4
78.2
2005
WUC
Rainfed
8.2
1.3
23.1
12.5
54.7
2006
WUC
Rainfed
7.8
1.05
40.8
16.5
144.7
2007
WUC
Rainfed
8.3
0.92
12.7
13.9
67.5
2007
WUC
Rainfed
8.4
1.0
21.6
14.5
70.4
2008
WUC
Rainfed
8.5
0.77
79.3
10.7
61.5
2011
WUC
Rainfed
8.3
0.97
21.6
18.6
89.3
2002
WUC
Flood Irrigation
8.3
0.66
10.5
14.7
76.5
2003
WUC
Flood Irrigation
8.4
1.1
16.1
18.5
83.4
2004
WUC
Flood Irrigation
8.4
1.2
27.2
10.2
54.7
2005
WUC
Flood Irrigation
8.4
1.45
20.0
9.65
66.4
2006
WUC
Flood Irrigation
7.9
0.4
22.9
20.9
58.6
2007
WUC
Flood Irrigation
8.4
1.45
28.3
24.9
108.8
2008
WUC
Flood Irrigation
8.5
1.27
30.3
18.9
123.5
2008
CHYZ**
Flood Irrigation
8.7
0.72
51.7
5.5
79.0
2008
CHYZ
Sprinkler irrigation
8.9
0.33
35.8
12.1
98.8
2009
WUC
Flood Irrigation
8.4
1.28
25.5
26.8
137.0
2009
CHYZ
Flood Irrigation
8.5
2.52
32.9
7.5
138.0
2009
CHYZ
Sprinkler irrigation
8.5
1.26
17.7
37.5
90.1
2010
WUC
Flood Irrigation
8.4
0.85
32.9
19.8
80.6
2010
WUC
Sprinkler irrigation
8.4
0.44
25.8
14.3
54.2
2011
WUC
8.1
1.29
16.4
14.3
80.4


Response of rainfed potato to fertilizer application and NUE
Ten experiments in rainfed potato (Table 2) showed that the tuber yield of OPT treatment was in the range of 9.6-21.4 t/ha with an average of 14.9 t/ha. Tuber yield was increased by an average of 3.2 t/ha, 2.4 t/ha and 2.2 t/ha or by 27.4%, 21.6% and 19.1%, respectively, compared with N, P and K omission plots. So, the first limiting factor for rainfed potato in Inner Mongolia was N, then P or K. The average agronomic efficiency (AE) of N, P and K for rainfed potato was 41.0 kg tuber/kg N, 55.0 kg tuber/kg P2O5 and 43.2 kg tuber/kg K2O. The average recovery efficiency (RE) of N, P and K fertilizer by rainfed potato was 33.1%, 16.8%, 50.1%. An average of 5.89 kg N, 1.44 kg P2O5 and 5.52 kg K2O was required for producing 1 t of tuber at the yield level of 14.9 t/ha.

Table 2 Yield response to fertilizer application and NUE in rainfed potato
Year
Nutrient applied
(kg/ha)
Tubert/ha
AEkg/kg
RE%
Nutrient requirement (kg/t)
N
P2O5
K2O
OPT
OPT
-N
OPT
-P
OPT
-K
N
P2O5
K2O
N
P2O5
K2O
N
P2O5
K2O
2002
64
45
45
11.8
9.6
10.6
10.6
34.4
27.3
26.7
24.6
13.1
39.4
7.36
1.65
6.37
2003
64
45
45
9.6
7.5
5.9
8.2
32.8
82.2
31.1
31.6
21.2
54.8
4.23
1.39
5.45
2004
45
30
30
14.4
12.6
13.8
12.9
39.9
21.1
50.2
37.3
13.8
41.1
6.87
1.13
5.02
2004
45
30
30
15.1
13.9
14.1
14.0
26.4
32.5
35.6
34.2
15.3
55.5
5.70
1.32
5.11
2005
45
30
30
19.3
15.7
15.8
18.5
80.6
117.2
29.2
35.2
18.3
41.6
4.79
1.23
4.18
2006
125
45
60
14.2
10.1
11.5
10.5
32.9
60.2
62.0
24.3
18.5
51.0
6.31
1.59
6.15
2007
125
45
60
10.3
9.1
8.6
7.3
9.3
36.6
50.0
25.7
14.6
62.2
6.92
1.42
7.71
2007
60
45
30
13.9
11.4
12.4
12.4
41.1
32.4
49.6
44.2
18.6
92.6
7.18
2.35
7.38
2008
105
60
90
21.4
11.9
17.3
16.4
90.3
68.1
56.2
51.3
18.7
23.6
5.50
1.32
3.36
2011
150
60
75
18.9
15.5
14.6
15.8
22.4
72.1
41.9
22.3
16.0
39.1
4.09
1.02
4.47
MAX
150.0
60.0
90.0
21.4
15.7
17.3
18.5
90.3
117.2
62.0
51.3
21.2
92.6
7.36
2.35
7.71
MIN
45.0
30.0
30.0
9.6
7.5
5.9
7.3
9.3
21.1
26.7
22.3
13.1
23.6
4.09
1.02
3.36
MEAN.
82.8
43.5
49.5
14.9
11.7
12.5
12.6
41.0
55.0
43.2
33.1
16.8
50.1
5.89
1.44
5.52
Fifteen experiments in irrigated potato (Table 3) showed that application of N P and K fertilizer increased tuber yield by an average of 7.1 t/ha, 6.5 t/ha and 5.8 t/ha, or by 26.3%, 22.8% and 20.1%, respectively, compared with N, P and K omission plots. The average agronomic efficiency (AE) of N, P and K for irrigated potato was 37.9 kg tuber/kg N, 65.6 kg tuber/kg P2O5 and 41.1 kg tuber/kg K2O. The average recovery efficiency (RE) of N, P and K fertilizer by irrigated potato was 35.6%, 14.9% and 49.9%. An average of 5.56 kg N, 1.48 kg P2O5 and 6.21 kg K2O was required for producing 1 t of tuber at the yield level of 35.7 t/ha.

Table 3 Yield response to fertilizer application and NUE in irrigated potato
Year
Site
Nutrient applied(kg/ha)
Tuber(t/ha)
AE(kg/kg)
RE(%)
Nutrient requirement (kg/t)
N
P2O5
K2O
OPT
OPT-N
OPT-P
OPT-K
N
P2O5
K2O
N
P2O5
K2O
N
P2O5
K2O
2002
WUC*
128
90
90
34.4
31.1
33.2
33.6
25.6
13.3
8.6
28.5
12.6
41.1
5.89
1.41
4.89
2003
WUC
143
92
120
32.4
27.9
27.9
29.6
31.3
48.5
23.0
36.3
12.8
38.3
5.71
1.17
5.64
2004
WUC
120
90
120
26.0
20.4
23.7
23.8
46.3
26.0
18.5
31.5
11.2
43.5
4.88
1.01
5.81
2005
WUC
120
90
120
37.5
31.3
31.3
34.0
52.1
68.5
29.2
39.3
19.8
56.1
4.40
1.58
6.63
2006
WUC
150
90
120
31.5
25.6
25.4
25.3
39.1
67.9
51.6
29.6
17.0
42.9
6.91
1.62
7.91
2007
WUC
180
60
120
30.6
23.8
24.9
25.9
37.5
95.4
39.1
34.6
10.6
47.6
7.58
1.21
9.44
2008
WUC
150
75
105
12.9
9.9
10.2
10.1
20.0
36.0
26.9
37.1
9.2
47.1
9.05
1.87
8.72
2008
CHYZ**
180
90
120
37.1
24.5
25.2
25.9
70.3
132.6
93.7
35.0
14.4
48.2
4.28
0.99
4.38
2008
CHYZ
180
90
120
24.4
18.0
18.1
19.6
35.8
70.0
40.0
34.7
18.8
50.1
6.22
2.38
5.41
2009
WUC
210
90
165
37.0
29.5
32.7
33.9
35.8
48.3
18.6
31.5
11.4
51.3
4.10
1.57
5.56
2009
CYZ
210
150
150
35.9
27.0
26.1
26.6
42.3
65.2
62.2
39.4
13.2
53.1
4.74
2.51
5.24
2009
CYZ
300
150
225
53.2
45.2
44.2
42.9
26.7
60.0
45.9
34.1
14.6
48.0
5.30
1.95
5.85
2010
WUC
240
90
165
37.5
28.2
32.1
30.1
38.6
59.4
44.3
33.5
19.8
59.2
4.04
0.94
5.29
2010
WUC
300
120
150
60.2
47.8
44.2
47.2
41.1
133.3
86.4
38.2
20.6
55.9
4.53
1.04
5.61
2011
WUC
240
90
165
44.3
38.0
38.9
39.6
26.0
60.0
28.6
50.4
16.9
65.4
5.72
0.95
6.82
MAX
300.0
150.0
225.0
60.2
47.8
44.2
47.2
70.3
133.3
93.7
50.4
20.6
65.4
9.05
2.51
9.44
MIN
120.0
60.0
90.0
12.9
9.9
10.2
10.1
20.0
13.3
8.6
28.5
9.2
38.3
4.04
0.94
4.38
MEAN
190.1
97.1
137.0
35.7
28.6
29.2
29.9
37.9
65.6
41.1
35.6
14.9
49.9
5.56
1.48
6.21
Note:*WUC---WuChuan county, **CHYZ---ChaYouZhong banner

Tuber yield increase of OPT treatment by percentage (%) over N, P and K omission plots was similar in rainfed and irrigated conditions, but yield increase by tonnage (t/ha) was much more in irrigated conditions than in rainfed conditions. The recommended rate of nutrients in irrigated field was 2.2-2.8 times of those in rainfed land, so the nutrient use efficiency including AE and RE was not improved compared with rainfed potato. The mean N and P requirement for producing 1 t of tuber was similar in ranfed and irrigated potato, while more K was required in irrigated potato.

Nutrient accumulation and distribution
Plant samples were collected periodically after emergence in rainfed and drip-irrigated potato in 2011 in Wuchuan to analyze nutrient content and accumulation in different parts of plants.
In irrigated potato, nitrogen uptake before 40 days after emergence was mainly accumulated in leaves and vines, accounting for 85-100% of total uptake. After that time N accumulation by tuber increased rapidly and N in leaves and vines decreased. At harvest, 71% of accumulated N in potato plant was in the tubers. P and K uptake by irrigated was similar to N. Before 40 DAE 76-100% of uptake P, 72-100% of uptake K was accumulated in leaves and vines. After that period tuber accumulated P and K increased. At harvest, 89% and 76% of P and K in potato plants accumulated in tuber.
In rainfed potato, 100% of nutrient N, P and K uptake before 30 DAE accumulated in leaves and vines and after 25 DAE nutrients in tuber increased rapidly and nutrients in leaves and vines decreased. At harvest, 80% of accumulated N, 91% of accumulated P and 91% of accumulated K in potato plant was in the tubers. More N and K accumulated in rainfed tubers than irrigated tubers.
The rapid uptake of N, P and K was in 25-57 DAE both in rainfed and irrigated potato. So nutrient N, P, K should be in sufficient supply before that period.










Mr. Duan (e-mail: yduan@ipni.ac.cn) is Professor, Mr. Tuo is Professor, Dr. Zhao is Professor, and Ms. Li is Assistant Professor with the Plant Nutrition and Analysis Institute, Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, China. Dr. Li (e-mail: sli@ipni.net) is Deputy Director, IPNI China Program, in Beijing.

References:

Rob Mikkelsen. Best Management Practices for Profitable Fertilization of Potatoes. Better Crops/Vol. 90 (2006, No. 2) :12~13


Duan Yu,Tuo Debao. Best Fertilizer Management Practices for Potato in Inner Mongolia.[M]. Inner Mongolia education press,2011.

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