Increased tuber yield of Pontiac potatoes resulting from the foliar application 2,4-D—Mineral dusts

Summary

The foliar application of a 2,4-D-mineral dust containing 1% 2,4-D and compounds of Cu, B, Mn, Zn, Fe, and sulfur, at the rate of 6 lb per acre to 23-day-old Pontiac potato plants grown in sandy loam and clay loam soils resulted in tuber yields 15.1% and 11.7% over those of untreated plants in the two plots. A dust containing only minerals, produced no significant increase.

The use of dusts containing 1% and 5% 2,4-D alone, or with minerals, and a dust containing minerals only, at 6 lb per acre, at various times during the first 34 days of growth of Pontiac potato plants showed that the greatest yield resulted from the application of the dust containing 1% 2,4-D with minerals to plants 23 days old and again when 34 days old. The yield was 20% greater than tuber yield by untreated plants. A 2,4-D-nutrient dust containing 5% 2,4-D, applied at 6 lb per acre at these two ages resulted in a 12% increase in tuber yield.