Long-term conservation tillage in potato rotations in Atlantic Canada: Potato productivity, tuber quality and nutrient content

Abstract

. Long-term conservation tillage in potato rotations in Atlantic Canada: Potato productivity, tuber quality and nutrient content. Can. J. Plant Sci. 89: 273Á280. Conservation tillage in combination with mulches in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) farming systems can maintain crop productivity and improve soil properties, in comparison with conventional tillage systems. However, information is needed on the long-term influence of such practices on potato crop parameters. A study was initiated in 1994 on a Charlottetown fine sandy loam (Orthic Podzol) in Prince Edward Island to assess the feasibility of using conservation tillage practices in combination with crop residue mulches (after the potato harvest) on potato production in two different potato rotations: a 2-yr barleyÁ potato rotation and a clover-based 3-yr (barleyÁred clover Ápotato) rotation. In the conservation tillage system, the primary tillage event was moved from the autumn to spring and the degree and depth of tillage were reduced by replacing the conventional mouldboard plough (20 cm depth) with a shallow (15 cm depth) one-pass chisel plough just prior to potato planting. Potato yield and tuber quality, surface residue levels after potato planting, and tuber mineral content were evaluated from 2000 to 2007. Adoption of conservation tillage over the long-term did not adversely influence total or marketable potato yield, or tuber quality. The clover-based 3-yr rotation, compared with the 2-yr rotation, had little effect on total potato yield (42 vs. 44 Mg ha(1 ), but produced significantly higher marketable tuber yields (38 vs. 32 Mg ha(1 ), for four of the eight yrs of the study. The conservation tillage system, for both rotations, provided relatively high surface residue levels (30%) after potato planting, compared with the bare soil surface in the conventional tillage system. Nutrient and trace element contents in tuber dry matter were similar between conservation and conventional tillage. Tuber uptake of nitrogen and other nutrients were slightly greater under the 3-yr, compared with the 2-yr rotation, and associated with tuber dry-matter yield differences. The results of the 14-yr study confirm the conclusions of previous short-term studies that a reduction in depth and intensity of tillage for potato culture is yield neutral, and a viable alternative to conventional tillage systems for potato production on sandy loams in eastern Canada.

Soil conservation practices for insect pest management in highly disturbed agroecosystems – a review

“…As a result, it is not readily adopted by commercial potato growers. However, in many reported cases conservation tillage resulted in similar or higher yields compared with conventional tillage (Lanfranconi et al, 1993;Mundy et al, 1999;Carrera et al, 2005;Carter et al, 2009). Furthermore, experimental net financial returns from using conservation tillage have been shown to equal or exceed the returns from using conventional tillage (Carrera et al, 2005).…”

Sistemas de preparo do solo para o cultivo da batata-doce

“…Carter et al (2009) e Gordon et al (2011) constataram que não há diferença de produtividade e de qualidade de batatas cultivadas em solo preparado convencionalmente e em solo com menor revolvimento; Oliveira et al (2004) verificaram semelhantes produtividades de rizomas de taro nos sistemas de plantio convencional e direto; e, em relação à cultura da mandioca, Aiyelari et al (2001) destacam a viabilidade da produção da cultura em sistema de preparo reduzido, enquanto Otsubo et al (2012) verificaram semelhantes produtividades de raízes produzidas em solo sob plantio direto e plantio convencional, constatando, inclusive, que, em plantio direto, houve acréscimo no teor de amido das raízes.…”

Influence of 10 years of conservation tillage on some biological properties of a fine sandy loam in the potato phase of two crop rotations in Atlantic Canada

“…During the clover phase, the crop was cut once (in June) and the residue retained on the plots. Other agronomic details including crop and residue measurements are given in Carter and Sanderson (2001) and Carter et al (2009). All cultural practices, including pest control, were similar to those outlined in the Atlantic Canada Potato Guide (1993).…”

“…Russet Burbank) rotation. Results for the first 6 yr (1994Á1999) and experimental background information are given in Carter and Sanderson (2001), while Carter et al (2009) provide potato productivity, tuber quality, and agronomic results for the period 2000Á2007. Information (1999Á2002) on several soilborne diseases is given in Peters et al (2004Peters et al ( , 2005.…”

“…The soil moisture regime and soil temperature are humid to per-humid and cool boreal, respectively. Annual precipitation for the site ranges from 800 to 1100 mm per annum with details given in Carter et al (2009).…”