Critical Tissues for Nutrient Diagnostics and Optimal Nutrients for Enhancing Yield of Processing Carrots

Abstract

Carrot (Daucus carota L. var sativus) production in Nova Scotia is challenging as carrots are grown under cool temperatures, rainfed conditions, and in mineral soils usually of low fertility. Growers must rely on fertilizer inputs to optimize yields. Excess application can result in high costs and may lead to soil and environmental problems. There is no up-to-date solidly-based, fertilizer recommendation available for carrot production in Nova Scotia. A greenhouse trial was conducted to identify the critical tissue(s) at various growth stages and optimal tissue nutrient concentrations for yield and quality. This will provide a diagnostic tool for assessing plant nutrient health and the opportunity to correct nutrient deficiencies to prevent yield losses, as well as provide an up-to-date fertilizer recommendation. Dicer carrot seeds, variety Red Core Chatenay were grown in sand culture system that used a gravity-fed drip irrigation system. Nine fertility treatments consisting of a complete 20-20-20 plus micronutrients fertilizer was used to deliver at 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, and 400 ppm equivalent of N, P, and K. Soil and plant tissue samples were taken at 4 and 9 weeks and at final harvest at 13 weeks. Critical tissues varied for each element studied at each of the growth stages. Results suggest 0 and 50 ppm treatments did not provide enough fertilizer to obtain maximum growth while plants receiving above 300 ppm were found to be more susceptible to disease. The treatment with 100 ppm N, P, and K was optimal, being significantly higher in yield and quality than all treatments except 150 ppm.