This trial was conducted to investigate how potatoes respond to boron and sulfur fertilization when grown on coarse sand soil with low organic matter

Lawson, Vincent

English

This trial was conducted to investigate how potatoes respond to boron and sulfur fertilization when grown on coarse sand soil with low organic matter.</p

Digital Repository @ Iowa State University (ISU)

Iowa State University, Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm ISRF11-20   11 Potato Response to Boron and Sulfur Fertilization  RFR-A1123  Vince Lawson, farm superintendent  Introduction This trial was conducted to investigate how potatoes respond to boron and sulfur fertilization when grown on coarse sand soil with low organic matter.  Materials and Methods Trial location was Field G, which has a Fruitfield coarse sand soil with approximately 1 percent organic matter. A soil test at the start of the study reported 1.2 lb/acre of boron and 27 lb/acre of sulfur. The field had been recently limed and soil pH was 7.4. The plot area was chisel plowed and preplant fertilizer was incorporated by disking at rate of  52 lb/acre nitrogen, 52 lb/acre P2O5, and  177 lb/acre K2O. Additional nitrogen was sidedressed on May 11 (potato emergence) and June 1 at rate of 50 lb/acre. Potato seed pieces were planted approximately 8 in. apart on April 11 in furrows and covered by hilling. Plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. A plot consisted of two rows, one row of cultivar Atlantic and one row of cultivar Snowden. Data were taken on the two cultivars separately, however, because they responded identically to the treatments, data were combined to simplify presentation. Pest control was achieved with use of s-metolachlor and linuron herbicides, bifentrhrin and imidacloprid insecticides and azoxystrobin and chlorothalonil fungicides. Solubor was the boron source and sprayed on the soil surface of designated plot areas at a rate to equal 1.5 lb/acre boron on April 12. Calcium sulfate (CaSO4) was the source of sulfur and was banded alongside potato rows at a rate to equal 20 lb/acre and 40 lb/acre sulfur on May 17. Leaf samples were collected on June 21 and sent to A&L Analytical Laboratories, Memphis, TN, to determine boron and sulfur concentrations in the plant tissue. Potato plots were harvested on July 20 to determine yield and specific gravity of the different treatments.   Results and Discussion Results of the boron fertilizer treatment observations are presented in Table 1. Although the soil test indicated sufficient boron, applying it in the spring increased plant tissue concentrations to 19 ppm compared with the control plots (no boron), which tested at 11 ppm. This is evidence the potato plants were probably boron deficient because adequate levels in potato plant tissue are reported to be in the 20–100 ppm range. Treatment yields also support this conclusion. Larger total and A-size tuber yield were produced by potatoes fertilized with boron.   There was no strong evidence that sulfur nutrition was a limiting factor influencing potato yield in this trial. The control plots had a plant tissue concentration of 0.3 percent (Table 2), which is above the reported sufficiency level of 0.2 percent. At harvest, yield and specific gravity did not significantly differ between the control and two sulfur treatments.   Both boron and sulfur are leachable nutrients and soil tests aren’t believed to be reliable indicators for predicting optimum availability during the growing season. Also, the shallow rooting of potatoes and the difficulty of predicting rainfall and leaching events during the season complicated fertilizer decisions. These factors point to a need to investigate early season plant tissue testing and in-season applications of boron or sulfur for correcting deficiencies when they occur.   Iowa State University, Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm ISRF11-20   12   Table 1. Control and boron fertilizer treatment comparison for plant tissue concentration, tuber yield, and specific gravity. Fertilizer treatment Plant tissue boron, ppm Total yield cwt/acre A-size yield cwt/acre B-size yield cwt/acre Specific gravity Control (no boron fertilizer) 11 247.6 219.0 28.7 1.083 Boron fertilizer 1.5 lb/acrea 19 275.2 246.5 28.7 1.083 LSD 0.05  20.5 22.3 n.s. n.s. aBoron applied as Solubor at 118 lb/acre rate on April 12.      Table 2. Control and sulfur fertilizer treatment comparisons for plant tissue concentration, tuber yield, and specific gravity. Fertilizer treatment Plant tissuea sulfur, % Total yield cwt/acre A-size yield cwt/acre B-size yield cwt/acre Specific gravity Control (no sulfur fertilizer) 0.30 246.5 214.5 32.1 1.083 Sulfur fertilizer 20 lb/acre 0.34 250.1 223.4 26.7 1.083 Sulfur fertilizer 40 lb/acre 0.47 248.8 223.5 25.3 1.083 LSD 0.05  n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. aSulfur applied as CaSO4 at 118 lb/acre (20 lb S) and 236 lb/acre (40 lb S) rate on May 17.   

Potato Response to Boron and Sulfur Fertilization

Iowa State University Computer Science Technical Reports

This project was conducted to investigate how potatoes respond to boron and sulfur fertilization when grown on two different soil types.</p

Iowa State University, Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm ISRF12-20  19 Potato Response to Boron and Sulfur Fertilization  RFR-A1204  Vince Lawson, farm superintendent  Introduction This project was conducted to investigate how potatoes respond to boron and sulfur fertilization when grown on two different soil types.   Materials and Methods The 2012 trial was conducted at two locations with different soil types. Field H provided a light colored “sand” soil with pH of 7.4, organic matter content of 1.0 percent, and CEC of 5.9 meq/100 gram. A spring soil test reported boron level of 0.8 lb/acre (low/medium) and sulfur level of 20 lb/acre (low). Field 6 provided a dark colored “sandy loam” soil with pH of 6.4, organic matter content of 2.3 percent, and CEC of  8.3 meq/100gram. A spring soil test reported boron level of 0.8 lb/acre (low/medium) and sulfur level of 24 lb/acre (low/medium).   The two trial areas were handled identically for tillage, fertilization, and pest control. Both sites were irrigated as needed to maintain uniform soil moisture. Atlantic potato seed were planted 8 in. apart in rows 42 in. apart on April 4. Plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications at each location. A plot consisted of two rows 25 ft long. Solubor was the boron source and sprayed on the soil surface at a rate equal to 1.5 lb/acre boron on April 6. The foliar treatment was applied on June 8 at a rate equal to 0.25 lb/acre boron. Calcium sulfate (CaSO4) was the source of sulfur and banded alongside potato rows at a rate to equal  20 lb/acre sulfur on May 8 (potato emergence) or on June 8 (midseason). Leaf samples were collected on June 7 and sent to A&L Analytical Laboratories, Memphis, TN, to determine boron and sulfur concentrations in the plant tissue. Potato plots were harvested on July 18 to determine yield and specific gravity.   Results and Discussion Boron treatment results are presented in Table 1 and show that applying boron (Solubor) to the soil at planting raised the concentration in plant tissue on June 7 but did not increase yield or specific gravity at either location. The trial also included a June 8 foliar application of boron to determine whether or not a mid-season treatment would increase potato yield. It did not affect yield this year, probably because the plant tissue sampling on June 7 indicated sufficient levels of boron already existed in the plants before application.    Trial results from applying sulfur fertilizer to potatoes are presented in Table 2. Banding calcium sulfate next to newly emerged potatoes on May 8 or next to vigorously growing potato plants on June 8, did not increase yield or specific gravity. This lack of response might be explained by low rainfall and little nutrient leaching allowing the potato plants to acquire sufficient sulfur from the soil and their environment.  At the beginning of this season Field H, which has a highly leachable sand soil with low organic matter, was thought to be most apt to show a response to boron and sulfur fertilization. However, this did not happen as neither site showed a response. Yields were greater in the darker soil of Field 6, probably due to the finer texture and better nutrient and water holding capacity of the soil. Also, it is probable that the low rainfall experienced this season minimized nutrient leaching in all fields.   Iowa State University, Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm ISRF12-20  20 This was the second year of testing boron and sulfur fertilization on potatoes. So far, no response to sulfur fertilizer has been observed. Potato plants seem to be able to acquire enough sulfur from their environment, at least under growing conditions of 2011 and 2012, to produce expected yield. This has occurred even though spring soil tests have indicated marginally low amounts of sulfur. But of more significance, tissue testing during the season has indicated sufficient amounts in the plant. Boron fertilizer results have been a little more variable. A slight yield increase due to boron fertilizer was seen in one out of three trials (the 2011 study). To summarize, so far, this research has shown that routine applications of sulfur or boron to potatoes is not likely to be beneficial under normal growing conditions. The exception might be in fields where previous plant tissue testing has shown a need or in high rainfall seasons conducive to nutrient leaching.    Table 1. Boron fertilizer treatment comparison for plant tissue concentration, tuber yield, and specific gravity on two soil types. Fertilizer treatment Plant tissue boron, ppma Total yield cwt/acre A-size yield cwt/acre Specific gravity Field H – Light sand     Control (no boron fertilizer) 37 171.5 152.5 1.087 Boron 1.5 lb/acre soil applied April 6 49 174.0 157.8 1.088 Boron 0.25 lb/acre foliar June 8 32 170.9 151.0 1.085 LSD 0.05  n.s n.s. n.s. Field 6 – Dark sandy loam     Control (no boron fertilizer) 30 215.3 193.8 1.083 Boron 1.5 lb/acre soil applied April 6 36 210.9 188.7 1.085 Boron 0.25 lb/acre foliar June 8 25 207.7 193.1 1.083 LSD 0.05  n.s n.s. n.s. aMost recently matured leaves collected on June 7, boron concentrations of 21–50 ppm are considered sufficient.   Table 2. Sulfur fertilizer treatment comparison for plant tissue concentration, tuber yield, and specific gravity on two soil types. Fertilizer treatment Plant tissue sulfur, %a Total yield cwt/acre A-size yield cwt/acre Specific gravity Field H – Light sand     Control (no sulfur fertilizer) 0.36 173.4 156.4 1.087 Sulfur 20 lb/acre sidedressed May 8 0.39 170.2 150.0 1.084 Sulfur 20 lb/acre sidedressed June 8 0.37 175.6 158.2 1.084 LSD 0.05  n.s n.s. n.s. Field 6 – Dark sandy loam     Control (no sulfur fertilizer) 0.41 218.2 195.8 1.083 Sulfur 20 lb/acre sidedressed May 8 0.44 205.1 184.6 1.083 Sulfur 20 lb/acre sidedressed June 8 0.42 202.8 182.5 1.082 LSD 0.05  n.s n.s. n.s. aMost recently matured leaves collected on June 7, sulfur concentrations of 0.2 percent or greater considered sufficient.    

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Potato Response to Boron and Sulfur Fertilization

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Iowa State University Computer Science Technical Reports

Digital Repository @ Iowa State University (ISU)