Water and Nitrogen Management Effects on Biomass Accumulation and Partitioning in Two Potato Cultivars

Ashok K.  Alva; Helena  Ren; Amber D.  Moore

doi:10.4236/ajps.2012.31019

Search Menu Sign in

Journals by Subject

Journals by Title

AJPS Vol.3 No.1 , January 2012

Water and Nitrogen Management Effects on Biomass Accumulation and Partitioning in Two Potato Cultivars

Ashok K. Alva, Helena Ren, Amber D. Moore

Abstract: Biomass accumulation and partitioning into different plant parts is a dynamic process during the plant growing period, which is influenced by crop management and climate factors. Adequate knowledge of biomass partitioning is important to manage the crops to gain maximum partitioning of assimilates into plant parts of economic significance, i.e. tubers in potato. This study was conducted using two potato cultivars grown in a sandy soil with center pivot irrigation under full irrigation (FI; irrigation to replenish 100% of water loss by evapotranspiration [ET]) and deficit irrigation (DI; replenish only 80% ET) and two nitrogen(N) rates (pre-plant + in-seasonN rates of 56 + 112 or 168 + 336 kg/ha). Plant samples were taken on 22, 44, 66, and 98 days after seedling emergence (DAE). With high N rate, tuber biomass of ‘Umatilla Russet’ cultivar in relation to total plant biomass varied from 23% - 88% and 25% - 86% over 22 to 98 DAE for the FI and DI treatments, respectively. The corresponding partitioning ranges were 30% - 93% and 38% - 93% at the low N rate. With respect to the‘Ranger Russet’ cultivar, biomass partitioning to tubers ranged from 36% - 82% and 23% - 84% for the FI and DI, respectively, at the high N rate, and 29% - 87% and 39% - 95% at the low N rate. Overall, this study demonstrated that within the range of N rate and irrigation treatments the biomass portioning into tubers was largely similar in both cultivars.

Keywords: Nutrient Requirement; Nutrient Best Management Practice; Nitrate Leaching; Water Quality; Deficit Irrigation; Nutrient Balance; Harvest Index

Cite this paper: A. Alva, H. Ren and A. Moore, "Water and Nitrogen Management Effects on Biomass Accumulation and Partitioning in Two Potato Cultivars," American Journal of Plant Sciences, Vol. 3 No. 1, 2012, pp. 164-170. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2012.31019.

References

[1] H. D. J. Van Heemst, “The Distribution of Dry Matter during Growth of a Potato Crop,” Potato Research, Vol. 29, No. 1, 1986, pp. 55-66.

[2] C. J. T. Splitters, “An Analysis of Variation in Yield among Potato Cultivars in Terms of Light Absorption, Light Utilization and Dry Matter Partitioning,” Acta Horticulturae, Vol. 214, 1987, pp. 71-84.

[3] J. Moorby, “The Production, Storage, and Translocation of Carbohydrates in Developing Potato Plants,” Annals of Botany, Vol. 34, No. 2, 1970, pp. 297-308.

[4] H. Gawronska, R. B. Dwelle, J. J. Pavek and P. Rowe, “Partioning of Photoassimilates by Four Potato Clones,” Crop Science, Vol. 24, No. 6, 1984, pp. 1031-1036. doi:10.2135/cropsci1984.0011183X002400060007x

[5] J. C. Ojala, J. C. Stark and G. E. Kleinkopf, “Influence of Irrigation and Nitrogen Management on Potato Yield and Quality,” American Potato Journal, Vol. 67, No. 1, 1990, pp. 29-43. doi:10.1007/BF02986910

[6] S. Roberts and H. H. Cheng, “Advances in Nitrogen Management for cv. Russet Burbank Potatoes,” Proceedings of the Washington Potato Conference and Trade Fair, Pullman, 1985, pp. 41-47.

[7] D. A. Lauer, “Response of Nooksack Potatoes to Nitrogen Fertilizer,” American Potato Journal, Vol. 63, No. 5, 1986, pp. 251-262. doi:10.1007/BF02852937

[8] D. A. Lauer, “Russet Burbank Yield Response to Sprinkler-Applied Nitrogen Fertilizer,” American Potato Journal, Vol. 63, No. 2, 1986, pp. 61-69. doi:10.1007/BF02853683

[9] J. Vos, “Split Nitrogen Application in Potato: Effects on Accumulation of Nitrogen and Dry Matter in the Crop and on the Oil Nitrogen Budget,” Journal of Agricultural Science, Vol. 133, No. 3, 1999, pp. 263-274. doi:10.1017/S0021859699006966

[10] H. Biemond and J. Vos, “Effects of Nitrogen on the Development and Growth of the Potato Plant,” Annals Botany, Vol. 70, No. 1, 1992, pp. 37-45.

[11] P. L. Kooman and R. Rabbinge, “An Analysis of the Relation between Dry Matter Allocation to the Tuber and Earliness of a Potato Crop,” Annals of Botany, Vol. 77, No. 3, 1996, pp. 235-242. doi:10.1006/anbo.1996.0027

[12] A. K. Alva, A. Moore and H. P. Collins, “Impact of Deficit Irrgiation on Tuber Yield and Quality of Potato Cultivars,” Journal of Crop Improvement, 2011 (In press).