Tuber yield and economic result of ‘Atlantic’ potato in response to NPK fertilizer formulas

Renato Yagi,Nilceu Rx De Nazareno,Alexandre De C Dzierwa,Henrique L Da Silva,Rogério P Soratto

doi:10.1590/s0102-053620190403

Renato Yagi, Nilceu Rx De Nazareno + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-053620190403

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Abstract

ABSTRACT The usual application of high 4-14-8 NPK fertilizer rates in the potato planting furrows, independently of the soil fertility or nutritional cultivar requirements, has become a paradigm in Brazil. However, the 4-14-8 NPK formula does not always meet the crop needs, and can unbalance the availability of nutrients in the soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the tuber yield and economic results of ‘Atlantic’ potato as affected by rates of 4-14-8 and 6-30-6 NPK formulas applied in the planting furrows. The rates of both NPK formulas were calculated to reach P2O5 rates of 210, 420, and 630 kg ha-1. At each P2O5 rate, the 6-30-6 formula resulted in less 30% N and 65% K2O in the planting furrow compared to 4-14-8 formula. A randomized complete block design in a factorial scheme (2×3)+1, including an unfertilized furrow control, with three replications was used. Only the use of 6-30-6 formula increased the total tuber yield of ‘Atlantic’ potato. The marketable tuber yield reached higher levels (29.8 t ha-1) with higher P2O5 rate (440 kg ha-1) using the 6-30-6 than 4-14-8 formula. The fertilizer rates and formulas NPK did not affect specific gravity of marketable tubers. Therefore, the use of a fertilizer more concentrated in P2O5 that favors smaller contributions of N and K (as the 6-30-6 formula studied in this work) provides lower costs, and greater operational efficiency and profits in relation to the 4-14-8 formula traditionally used for the potato crop.

Highlights

A aplicação usual de altas doses do fertilizante NPK 4-14-8 nos sulcos de plantio da cultura da batata, independentemente da fertilidade do solo ou das necessidades nutricionais da cultivar, tornou-se um paradigma no Brasil
O uso de um fertilizante mais concentrado em P2O5 que favorece aportes menores de N e K proporciona menores custos, e maiores eficiência operacional e lucros em relação à fórmula 4-14-8 tradicionalmente usada na cultura da batata
Marketable tuber yield increased with the application of both formulas, reaching maximum of 27.6 t ha-1 with 294 kg ha-1 P2O5 as 4-14-8 formula (2.1 t ha-1) and 29.8 t ha-1 with 440 kg ha-1 P2O5 as 6-30-6 formula (1.4 t ha-1) (Figure 1b)

Summary

Introduction

A aplicação usual de altas doses do fertilizante NPK 4-14-8 nos sulcos de plantio da cultura da batata, independentemente da fertilidade do solo ou das necessidades nutricionais da cultivar, tornou-se um paradigma no Brasil. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as produtividades de tubérculos e os resultados econômicos da batata cultivar Atlantic afetada por doses das fórmulas NPK 4-14-8 e 6-30-6 aplicadas no sulco de plantio. ‘Atlantic’ is the most planted potato cultivar for chip processing industries in Brazil (Evangelista et al, 2011) This cultivar has low P-use efficiency (Soratto et al, 2015) and can respond to high P fertilizer rates in the planting furrows, especially in soils with low and medium P availability (Fernandes & Soratto, 2016). N and K are the nutrients taken up in greater amounts by ‘Atlantic’ potato plants, but this cultivar uptakes maximum only 26% N and 35% K of total required until 40 days after planting (DAP) (Fernandes et al, 2011), which is inconsistent with 4-14-8 rates traditionally applied in the planting furrows. High N and inadequate K supply increase the content of the acrylamide precursors, a potentially carcinogenic substance that can accumulates in the fried potato products (Gerendás et al, 2007)

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