Abstract
The effect of seedpiece spacing on the efficiency of nitrogen (N) use by the potato crop is generally unknown. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of seedpiece spacing on tuber yield, yield components and N use efficiency parameters of two potato cultivars. Potato cultivars Atlantic and Shepody were grown at two rates of N fertilization (0 or 100 kg N ha−1) and three seedpiece spacings (20, 30, or 40 cm) in 2000 to 2002. Wider seedpiece spacing increased mean tuber weight and the number of tubers per stem, but decreased total tuber yield. The higher tuber yield at the narrow seedpiece spacing was attributed to higher biomass production in combination with lower tuber specific gravity. Seedpiece spacing had no consistent effect on plant N accumulation, and therefore no consistent effect on N uptake efficiency (plant N accumulation /N supply from the soil plus fertilizer). However, a small increase in soil NO3-N concentration in the hill at topkill at wider seedpiece spacing suggested plant N accumulation was slightly reduced at wider seedpiece spacing, but at a level that could not be detected from a plant-based measure of N accumulation. The reduced dry matter accumulation, but similar plant N accumulation, resulted in lower N use efficiency (plant dry matter accumulation / N supply) at wider seedpiece spacing. Wider seedpiece spacing also resulted in generally lower values of N utilization efficiency (plant dry matter accumulation / plant N accumulation) for the 40-cm compared with the 20- and 30-cm seedpiece spacings. Effects of seedpiece spacing on N use efficiency parameters were generally consistent across cultivars and fertilizer N rates. Wider seedpiece spacing did reduce the efficiency of N use by the potato crop; however, the magnitude of the effect was small under the conditions of this study.
Resumen
El efecto del espaciamiento de la semilla sobre la eficiencia en el uso de N es generalmente desconocido. El objectivo de este experimento fue determinar el efecto del espaciamiento de la semilla sobre el rendimiento, componentes del rendimiento y parámetros en el uso de N de dos cultivares de papa. Los cultivares Atlantic y Shepody se crecieron a dos dosis de fertilización (0 y 100 Kg de N ha−1) y tres distancias de espaciamiento (20, 30, y 40 cm) en 2002 a 2003. Un mayor espaciamiento de la semilla aumentó el peso y el número de tubérculos por tallo, pero disminuyó el rendimiento total. El mayor rendimiento a menor espaciamiento de la semilla fue atribuido a una mayor producción de biomasa en combinación con una menor gravedad específica del tubérculo. El espaciamiento de la semilla no tuvo consistencia con el efecto de acumulación de N en la planta y por lo tanto no tuvo un efecto estable con la eficiencia de absorción de N (acumulación de N en la planta / abastecimiento del N del suelo, más fertilizante). Sin embargo, un ligero incremento de la concentración de NO3-N en el surco a la destrucción del follaje, a mayor espaciamiento de la semilla sugirió que la acumulación de N fue ligeramente menor a mayor espaciamiento, pero a un nivel de acumulación de N que no pudo ser detectado. La reducida acumulación de materia seca, pero similar a la acumulación de N en la planta, dio como resultado una menor eficiencia en el uso de N (acumulación de materia seca de la planta / abastecimiento de N), a mayor espaciamiento de la semilla. Un espaciamiento mayor dio generalmente valores más bajos de eficiencia de utilización de N (acumulación de materia seca por la planta / acumulación de N por la planta) para un espaciamiento de 40cm, en comparación con el espaciamiento de 20 y 30 cm. Los efectos del espaciamiento de la semilla sobre los parámetros de eficiencia de uso de N fueron generalmente consistentes en los cultivares y en la proporción de N fertilizante. Un mayor espaciamiento de la semilla redujo la eficiencia de uso de N en el cultivo, sin embargo, la magnitud del efecto fue pequeña bajo las condiciones de este estudio.
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Zebarth, B.J., Arsenault, W.J. & Sanderson, J.B. Effect of seedpiece spacing and nitrogen fertilization on tuber yield, yield components, and nitrogen use efficiency parameters of two potato cultivars. Am. J. Pot Res 83, 289–296 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02871589
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02871589