Abstract
Using excessive rates of N fertilizer on potatoes in Maine has been a common practice. Excessive N did not significantly increase potato yields above the recommended N application. The impact of N fertilization upon soil solution levels of NO3 -N in the B and C soil horizons was compared at three application levels of N. High N resulted in greater levels of NO3 -N in the C horizon and the strong possibility of groundwater contamination. There was no apparent change in the NO3 -N content of the C horizon during the winter following buckwheat, but there was an increase of NO3 -N in this horizon when fall levels beneath potatoes were compared to spring values under buckwheat. After one year of no N application soil solution NO3 -N levels in the B horizon returned to amounts that were the same as those receiving no N fertilization for a decade.
Resumen
La aplicación de dosis excesivas de fertilizantes de N al cultivo de papa ha sido por muchos años una práctica común en Maine. La aplicación de dosis de N mayores a la recomendada no incrementí significativamente los rendimientos de papa. El impacto de la fertilización N en los niveles de NO3 -N en la solución del suelo de los horizontes B y C fue comparado al aplicar tres niveles de N. Dosis altas de N resultaron en mayores niveles de NO3 -N en el horizonte C. No hubo cambio apreciable en el contenido de NO3 -N del horizonte C durante el invierno siguiendo al cultivo de trigo sarraceno, pero hubo incremento de NO3 -N en este horizonte cuando los niveles de oto~no bajo papas fueron comparados con los valores obtenidos en primavera bajo trigo sarraceno. Después de un año sin aplicar N los niveles de NO3 -N en la solución del suelo en el horizonte B regresaron a cantidades que fueron las mismas a aquellas que no recibieron fertilización de N por una década.
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Contribution from Maine Agricultural Experiment Station. This study supported by Northeast Regional Project NE-39.
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Rourke, R.V. Soil solution levels of nitrate nitrogen in a potato-buckwheat rotation. American Potato Journal 62, 1–8 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02871294
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02871294