Sustainable and Profitable Nitrogen Fertilization Management of Potato

Anita Ierna,Giovanni Mauromicale

doi:10.3390/agronomy9100582

Anita Ierna, Giovanni Mauromicale

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9100582

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Journal: Agronomy	Publication Date: Sep 25, 2019
Citations: 34	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: National Research Council, University of Catania

Abstract

Nitrogen fertilization is indispensable to improving potato crop productivity, but there is a need to manage it suitably by looking at environmental sustainability. In a three-season experiment, we studied the effects of five nitrogen (N) fertilization rates: 0 (N0), 100 (N100), 200 (N200), 300 (N300) and 400 (N400) kg N ha−1 on crop N uptake, apparent nitrogen recovery efficiency (ANRE), tuber yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE), nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE) and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (AgNUE) of five different potato cultivars: Daytona, Ninfa, Rubino, Sieglinde and Spunta. The economically optimum N fertilizer rates (EONFR) were also calculated. In seasons with high soil nitrogen availability for the crop (about 85 kg ha−1 of N), tuber yield increased only up to N100 and ANRE was about 50%; in seasons with medium (from 50 to 60 kg ha−1 of N) soil N availability, tuber yield increased up to N200 and ANRE was about 45%. Rubino and Sieglinde (early cultivars) responded for tuber yield only up to N100; Daytona, Ninfa, Spunta (late cultivars) up to N200, showing the highest values of NUE, NUpE, NUtE and AgNUE at N100. EONFR ranged from 176 to 268 kg ha−1 in relation to cultivar and season, but the reduction by 50% led to a tuber yield decrease of only around 16%. The adoption of cultivars characterized by high AgNUE at a low N rate and a soil nitrate test prior to planting, are effective tools to achieve a more sustainable and cost-effective nitrogen fertilization management.

Highlights

Potato is a very important crop in the Mediterranean basin, occupying an overall area of a little less than one million ha and producing 30 million tons of tubers [1]
The adoption of cultivars characterized by high agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (AgNUE) at a low N rate and a soil nitrate test prior to planting, are effective tools to achieve a more sustainable and cost-effective nitrogen fertilization management
The substantial commercial value of the product and the intensive use of the land prompt farmers to supplement the potato crop with water and nutrients, which have undoubtedly been responsible for increased early potato yields in recent decades

Summary

Introduction

Potato is a very important crop in the Mediterranean basin, occupying an overall area of a little less than one million ha and producing 30 million tons of tubers [1]. Because of the central role of this macronutrient in determining crop growth and yield capability, N fertilization of the early potato cultivation in the Mediterranean basin is excessive and often even irrational, with N rates higher than 600–700 kg ha−1 frequently being applied [7]. The excess nitrogen (N) not taken up by the crop remains in the soil profile and may be subject to losses by denitrification, volatilization, surface runoff and leaching to the groundwater, resulting in pollution of the environment [8] This is favored by the high amounts of irrigation water applied, low efficiency of irrigation methods such as furrow or sprinkler [9] and by light-textured soils [10], common in early potato cultivation.

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Conclusion