Effect of N Fertilizer Dosage and Base/Topdressing Ratio on Potato Growth Characteristics and Yield

Abstract

Nitrogen fertilizer is an important kinetic energy for potato production. To study the effect of nitrogen(N) fertilizer application and the topdressing ratio on potato growth and yield, different N application levels: N75 (75 kg ha−1), N150 (150 kg ha−1), N225 (225 kg ha−1) and different N fertilizer base/topdressing ratios: T1 (2:8), T2 (5:5), T3 (8:2), and T4 (10:0) were used to find the best N fertilizer operation. The results showed that higher yields can be obtained when 120–180 kg ha−1 N was applied under the base/topdressing ratio of 8:2 in silt loam (sand–silt–clay: 29-50-21). The base N fertilizer dosage largely determined the root morphology, while topdressing fertilizer mainly affected the leaf photosystem, however, rhizosphere topdressing at the early stages of bud emergence did not immediately affect the leaf soluble protein and the sugar content. Topdressing N increased the tuber crude protein and ascorbic acid content to some extent, but had weak effect on the amylose/amylopectin ratio, for the starch content was mainly influenced by total N application. When base N fertilizer was low, it could be compensated by applying fertilizer during flowering, though when the amount of base fertilizer was sufficient, topdressing would cause a decrease in the average single potato weight and an increase in potato sets per plant, thereby reducing the commercial potato rate. Overall, adopting a suitable base/topdressing ratio can promote plant growth and improve tuber quality and yield. However, the relationship between the specific application amount and the ratio under different soil texture conditions needs further study.