Placement of fertilizers for potatoes planted by machines

Abstract

A two-row hand-dropping potato planter was modified by adding fertilizer equipment. The machine was used in thirty-three experiments in 1951 and 1952 to plant potatoes from flat land and compare broadcast dressings of granulated compound fertilizer with dressings placed near to the seed.Fertilizer placed either in one band at the side and below the level of the seed, or in contact with the seed, gave consistently higher yields than broadcast dressings. Broadcast fertilizer gave yields similar to those given by only one-half to two-thirds as much placed fertilizer. On the average of all the experiments, placing fertilizer gave about 1 ton/acre more potatoes than broadcasting. The advantages of placement were greatest when low rates of dressing were used.Broadcast fertilizer was cultivated deeply into the seed-beds in nineteen experiments in 1952 and gave slightly lower average yields than late dressings broadcast on the seed-beds.Fertilizer placed in bands on the soil surface immediately in front of the seed-shoes gave yields similar to those given by dressings broadcast over the seed-beds in fourteen experiments in 1951. In average planting conditions fertilizer broadcast on the seed-beds or placed in front of the seed-shoes was thrown to the middle of the ridges and concentrated above the seed.Fertilizer placed in contact with the seed gave higher average yields than dressings in a sideband at both rates of manuring in the 1951 experiments. In 1952 contact placement was slightly superior to sideband placement at low rates of fertilizer and slightly inferior at high rates. In most experiments in each year emergence was delayed by 10–14 days when the heavy dressing was placed in contact with the seed. Early growth was poor but at most centres the crops recovered later in the season and gave good yields. There is most risk of damage from contact placement on light soils, on badly prepared seed-beds and in dry years. Dressings of 10 to 12 cwt./acre of ordinary-strength compound fertilizers are likely to be quite safe when applied in contact with the seed. If heavier dressings are to be used, part should be applied in contact with the seed and part broadcast, such split applications were satisfactory in experiments in 1951.Farmers planting even moderate acreages of potatoes by machines will benefit by using a suitable fertilizer attachment. Equipment is needed to place fertilizer at the side of the seed so that heavy dressings can be used to secure maximum yields without risk.

The interactions of water and fertilizer nitrogen in effects on growth pattern and yield of potatoes

“…Many workers have reported delayed emergence and poor early growth associated with high concentrations of fertilizer salts close to the seed, especially in dry springs (Cooke, 1949;Cooke, Jackson & Widdowson, 1954;Baldwin, 1963). Damage to early growth by fertilizer nitrate ions has been suggested by Widdowson, Penny & Cooke (1960) and injurious effects of ammonia by Warren (1962).…”

Comparisons between placing and broadcasting of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers for potatoes, peas, beans, kale and maize

“…to the right-hand side of the centre line of the experiment served as a guide to the tractor driver. An experimental potato planter fitted with an end-delivery fertilizer mechanism which was built by the National Institute for Agricultural Engineering (described by Cooke et al 1954) was used to plant seed and place fertilizer as required. After the first two rows had been planted the furrows served as a guide.…”

“…Experimental work showed that considerable improvements in fertilizer efficiency could be obtained for some row crops and for potatoes by adopting suitable placement techniques (Cooke & Widdowson 1953;Cooke, Jackson & Widdowson, 1954). In these earlier experiments comparisons between placing and broadcasting were made using granulated PK or NPK compound fertilizers.…”

Evaluation of Fertilizer Placement Methods for White Yam (Dioscorea rotundata)

“…In temperate and subtropical countries, suitable fertilizer placement has improved the yields of some crops (Long and Sherbakoff, 1951;Cooke et al, 1954) and has controlled 'scorch' due to N and K in compound fertilizers (Wahhab et al, 1957;Reith, 1974). In the tropics, however, better fertilizer placement practices for yams are yet to be determined (Irving, 1956;Stephens 1960;Hauck, 1974).…”