Effect of Fertilizers on the Composition of Potatoes Grown in the Red River Valley of Minnesota

Abstract

T HE potato is an important cultivated crop in the Red River Valley of Minnesota. This crop requires relatively large amounts of plant food, and, consequently, for most soils, fertilizer applications are necessary for high yields. The results of field experiments indicate that there is a need for the use of phosphate and potash fertilizers for potatoes in the Red River Valley (15) 3. During the course of the field trials studies were made to determine the influence of the fertilizers upon the composition and quality of the potatoes. 'Fertilizers improved the cooking quality of the potatoes, particularly on the lighter soils where nutrient deficiencies were more prevalent (8). The data reported in this article are concerned primarily with the effects of the fertilizers upon the composition of the potatoes. Considerable work has been done on the influence of fertilizers upon the composition and quality of potatoes, and many conflicting results have been obtained (17). This is probably due in large part to the different conditions under which the fertilizers have been used. For any crop there is a certain optimum of soil and plant nutrient conditions which ate most favorable to plant growth and deviations from this optimum may cause changes in plant composition. The effects of fertilizer elements on plant composition are interrelated since one fertilizer element may either enhance or have an antagonistic effect on the absorption of another. On soils which were deficient in potash in England (4, 6), both nitrogen and phosphate enhanced potassium deficiency symptoms in the potato tissue and phosphate deficiency symptoms were induced by nitrogen and nitrogenpotash treatments, but more strongly by the latter. It is, therefore, important that all nutrients are present in adequate amounts for the most satisfactory production of potatoes on a given soil.

Yield and Mineral Content of Corn as Affected by Ammonium Chloride Fertilizer1

“…Small .additions of CP to certain crops have been shown to be beneficial ( 4,6,9), but excessive amounts of Cl may be detrimental ( 1,4,8,11,12,13). Adverse effects of Cl on the quality of such crops as tobacco and potatoes have been demonstrated (3,5,7). Certain physiological -effects of Cl in the plant have been reviewed quite thoroughly by Miller (10).…”

Exportação de nutrientes nos tubérculos de batata em função de doses de sulfato de potássio

“…Por outro lado, a produção de matéria seca de tubérculo aumentou com o crescimento da planta (p≤0,01) (Tabela 1), fato esse esperado. A produção de matéria seca de tubérculos na colheita (4,6 Mg ha -1 ) foi superior à encontrada por Dunn & Rost (1948) (3,6 Mg ha -1 ) e inferior à encontrada por Saffigna & Keeney (1977) (13,7 Mg ha -1 ). Estas diferenças entre as produções de matéria seca de tubérculos podem ser explicadas por diferenças entre condições edafo-climáticas, bem como cultivares, utilizadas por estes diferentes autores.…”

“…Muitos trabalhos de pesquisa já foram realizados para determinação de teores de macronutrientes nos tubérculos, porém poucas informações estão disponíveis na literatura sobre os teores de micronutrientes nos tecidos vegetais da batateira (Walworth & Muniz, 1993). Trabalhos avaliando o efeito de fertilizantes sobre a composição de tubérculos de batata citam que o teor de Cl encontra-se entre 0,9-5,6 g kg -1 de matéria seca (Dunn & Rost, 1948). Saffigna et al (1977), avaliando o efeito da adubação nitrogenada e da irrigação na produção de batata (Russet Burbank), constataram que o teor de Cl estava na faixa de 2,0 -3,9 g kg -1 de matéria seca de tubérculos coletados na época de colheita, enquanto que Maier (1986) encontrou teores de Cl maiores (4,3 -9,9 g kg -1 de matéria seca) em tubérculos coletados na mesma época de amostragem.…”

“…A quantidade de nutrientes presente, tanto na parte aérea quanto nos tubérculos, fornecerá estimativas do requerimento nutricional para a cultura da batata (Dunn & Rost, 1948). Desde que a parte área da batateira possa ser incorporada ao solo após a colheita dos tubérculos, a avaliação da exportação de nutrientes nos tubérculos torna-se ferramenta útil para calibrar as recomendações de adubos para a lavoura da batata.…”