Phosphorus fertigation of trickle-irrigated potato

Abstract

A 3-year field study, on Pellic Vertisol, investigated the response of trickle-irrigated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to four P levels applied with the irrigation water. Waters supplied with 130 and 120 mg l−1 of N and K, respectively, and with P levels of 0, 20, 40 and 60 mg l−1, were applied when the soil water potential was between 0.03 and 0.04 MPa. The water applied at each irrigation was equivalent to 0.8 of pan evaporation from a screened USWB Class A pan. With the application of 40 mg P l−1 no P accumulation deeper in the soil profile occurred, whereas P in petioles was at levels recommended for high yield of good quality. At this P concentration in irrigation water, removal of P from soil by tubers was 22 kg/ha/year. The highest yield of good quality was obtained at 40 mg P l−1.