Effect of current-season application of calcitic lime and phosphorus fertilization on potato tuber phosphorus concentration and leaf chemical composition

Abstract

Two glasshouse and three field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of current-season application of calcitic lime and phosphorus (P) fertilization on the leaf chemical composition of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars Russet Burbank, Crystal and Pontiac grown in acid Entisols. Rates of calcitic lime ranged from 0 to 20 t ha−1, and rates of P, applied as single superphosphate, ranged from 0 to 100 kg ha−1. Leaves (5th leaf from the growing tip) were sampled when the lengths of the longest tubers were 10, 60, and 100 mm. The application of lime significantly decreased tuber P, and leaf P, K, Cl, B, Zn, and Mn concentrations; increased leaf Ca, Mg, S, and Cl; or had no effect on leaf N, Cu and Fe concentrations, however, the effects were not consistent between experiments or over time. Phosphorus fertilization significantly increased tuber P and leaf P, N, Cl, and Zn concentrations; decreased K, Mg, S, Mn, and Fe concentrations; and increased or decreased Ca, B, and Cu concentrations in some experiments. There were significant interactions between P and lime in their effects on leaf P (experiments G1 and F1), Mg (experiment G2), Cl (experiment F1), and Mn (experiments G1 and G2) concentrations. Comparison of leaf nutrient concentrations with published interpretation (diagnostic) standards, and the lack of visual symptoms, showed that liming did not induce nutrient deficiencies in any experiment. Current-season application of calcitic lime to potatoes grown in acid Entisols was ineffective as an agronomic practice to increase the P concentration in plants.