Abstract
Plant diagnostic methods of N deficiency should be based on the definition of a critical N concentration, that is the minimal N concentration required to achieve maximum growth. The critical N concentration (Nc) of potato was determined from six on-farm field trials in which two cultivars (Russet Burbank and Shepody) were grown under three or four N rates with and without irrigation. Dry matter yield and N concentration of shoots and tubers were determined approximately weekly during the growing season. The Nc was determined by selecting data points for which the highest total biomass comprised of shoots and tubers was obtained, and by expressing N concentration (N) as a function of total biomass (W). The N nutrition index (NNI), calculated as the ratio between measured N concentration and predicted Nc during the growing season, was then related to the relative yield measured at harvest. Under non-limiting water conditions, the allometric relationship between Nc and total biomass for Russet Burbank (Nc = 4.57W-0.42) was different from that of Shepody (Nc = 5.04W-0.42), indicating that Shepody had a greater N concentration than Russet Burbank. The N concentration of Shepody was also greater than that of Russet Burbank under limiting water conditions. These results suggest that there is intra-specific variability in potato for the relationship between N concentration and biomass. The NNI ranged from 0.50 to 1.4. The relationship between relative yield and NNI expressed by a quadratic function accounted for a greater proportion of the variability with irrigation (71% for Russet Burbank and 82% for Shepody) than without irrigation (65% for Russet Burbank and 32% for Shepody). Our results suggest that the NNI could be a reliable indicator of the level of N stress during the growing season, particularly under non-deficient water conditions.
Resumen
Los métodos de fitodiagnóstico de deficiencia de N deben basarse en la definición de una concentración crítica de N, es decir, la concentración mínima requerida para alcanzar el crecimiento máximo. La concentración critica de N (Nc) en la papa fue determinada en seis campos experimentales de agricultores, en los cuales crecieron dos cultivares (Russet Burbank y Shepody) bajo tres o cuatro niveles de N con y sin irrigación. Los rendimientos en materia seca y la concentración de N en las yemas y tubérculos se determinaron aproximadamente cada semana durante la temporada de crecimiento. La Nc se determinó seleccionando los datos por los cuales se obtuvo la biomasa total más alta, que incluía yemas y tubérculos, y expresando la concentración de N (N) como una función de la biomasa total (W). El índice de nutrición de N (NNI, en inglés) calculado como la relación entre la concentración medida de N y hl Nc pronosticada durante la temporada de crecimiento, se relacionó entonces con el rendimiento relativo medido y cosechado. Bajo condiciones de abundancia de agua, la relación alométrica entre Nc y la biomasa total para Russet Burbank (Nc = 4.57W-0.42) fue diferente que para Shepody (Nc = 5.04W-0.42), indicativo de que Shepody tiene una mayor concentración de N que Russet Burbank. La concentración de N de Shepody fue también mayor que la de Russet Burbank bajo condiciones limitadas de agua. Estos resultados sugieren que hay una variabilldad intraespecíflca en la papa en la relación entre la concentración de N y la biomasa. El índice de nutrición de N (NNI) osciló entre 0.50 a 1.4. La relación entre el rendimiento relativo y el NNI, se expresó por una función cuadrática contabilizada por una mayor proporción de la variabilidad con irrigación (71% para Russet Burbank y 82% para Shepody) que sin irrigación (65% para Russet Burbank y 32% para Shepody). Nuestros resultados sugieren que el NNI podría ser un indicador confiable del nivel de estrés de N durante la temporada de crecimiento, particularmente bajo condiciones no deficientes de agua.
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Contribution no. 696, Soils and Crops Research and Development Centre.
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Bélanger, G., Walsh, J.R., Richards, J.E. et al. Critical Nitrogen Curve and Nitrogen Nutrition Index for Potato in Eastern Canada. Am. J. Pot Res 78, 355–364 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02884344
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02884344