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Crop and soil nitrogen responses to phosphorus and potassium fertilization and drip irrigation under processing tomato

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Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Shortage of water or nutrient supplies can restrict the high nitrogen (N) demand of processing tomato, leaving high residual soil N resulting in negative environmental impacts. A 4-year field experiment, 2006–2009, was conducted to study the effects of water management consisting of drip irrigation (DI) and non-irrigation (NI), fertilizer phosphorus (P) rates (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg P ha−1), and fertilizer potassium (K) rates (0, 200, 400, and 600 kg K ha−1) on soil and plant N when a recommended N rate of 270 kg N ha−1 was applied. Compared with the NI treatment, DI increased fruit N removal by 101 %, plant total N uptake by 26 %, and N harvest index by 55 %. Consequently, DI decreased apparent field N balance (fertiliser N input minus plant total N uptake) by 28 % and cumulative post-harvest soil N in the 0–100 cm depth by 33 %. Post-harvest soil N concentration was not affected by water management in the 0–20 cm depth, but was significantly higher in the NI treatment in the 20–100 cm depth. Fertilizer P input had no effects on all variables except for decreasing N concentration in the stems and leaves. Fertilizer K rates significantly affected plant N utilization, with highest fruit N removal and plant total N uptake at the 200 kg K ha−1 treatment; therefore, supplementing K had the potential to decrease gross N losses during tomato growing seasons. Based on the measured apparent field N balance and spatial distribution of soil N, gross N losses during the growing season were more severe than expected in a region that is highly susceptible to post-harvest soil N losses.

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Abbreviations

DI:

Drip irrigation

K:

Potassium

N:

Nitrogen

Ncum :

Cumulative soil inorganic nitrogen

Nmin :

Soil inorganic N concentration

NCSL:

Nitrogen concentration of stems and leaves

NHI:

Nitrogen harvest index

NO3 −–N:

Nitrate nitrogen

NI:

Non-irrigation

P:

Phosphorus

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Acknowledgments

We thank M. Reeb, D. Pohlman, K. Rinas, and B. Hohner for technical assistance and the Ontario Agri-Business Association, International Plant Nutrient Institute, Canadian Fertilizer Institution, Ontario Tomato Research Institute, Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers, A & L Canada Laboratories Inc., and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Matching Initiative Investment (MII) program for financial assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada

    K. Liu

  2. Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2585 County Road 20 E., Harrow, ON, N0R 1G0, Canada

    T. Q. Zhang & C. S. Tan

  3. Department of Engineering, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, P.O. Box 550, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada

    T. Astatkie & G. W. Price

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  1. K. Liu
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  2. T. Q. Zhang
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  3. C. S. Tan
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  4. T. Astatkie
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Correspondence to T. Q. Zhang.

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Liu, K., Zhang, T.Q., Tan, C.S. et al. Crop and soil nitrogen responses to phosphorus and potassium fertilization and drip irrigation under processing tomato. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 93, 151–162 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-012-9506-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-012-9506-0

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