Estimation of soil nitrogen supply in potato fields using a plant bioassay approach

• Published in: Canadian journal of soil science 2005-08, Vol.85 (3), p.377-386
• Main Authors: Zebarth, B.J, Leclerc, Y, Moreau, G, Sanderson, J.B, Arsenault, W.J, Botha, E.J, Wang-Pruski, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: bioaccumulation; bioassays; crop yield; dry matter accumulation; field experimentation; harvest index; mineralization; nitrate nitrogen; nitrogen; nitrogen content; nutrient availability; nutrient uptake; phosphorus fertilizers; potassium fertilizers; potatoes; soil nutrients; Solanum tuberosum; topkill
• ISSN: 0008-4271; 1918-1841
• DOI: 10.4141/S04-054

Soil N supply is an important contributor of N to crop production; however, there is a lack of practical methods for routine estimation of soil N supply under field conditions. This study evaluated sampling just prior to topkill of whole potato plants that received no fertilizer N as a field bioassay of soil N supply. Three experiments were performed. In exp. 1, field trials were conducted to test if P and K fertilization, with no N fertilization, influenced plant biomass and N accumulation at topkill. In exp. 2, plant N accumulation at topkill in unfertilized plots was compared with mineral N accumulation in vegetation-free plots. In exp. 3, estimates of soil N supply were obtained from 56 sites from 1999 to 2003 using a survey approach where plant N accumulation at topkill, and soil mineral N content to 30-cm depth at planting and at tuber harvest were measured. Application of P and K fertilizer had no significant effect on plant N accumulation in two trials, and resulted in a small increase in plant N accumulation in a third trial. Zero fertilizer plots, which can be more readily established in commercial potato fields, can therefore be used instead of zero fertilizer N plots to estimate soil N supply. In exp. 2, estimates of soil N supply were generally comparable between plant N accumulation at topkill and maximum soil NO 3 -N accumulation in vegetation-free plots; therefore, the plant bioassay approach is a valid means of estimation of plant available soil N supply. Plant N accumulation at topkill in exp. 3 averaged 86 kg N ha -1 , and ranged from 26 to 162 kg N ha -1 . Plant N accumulation was higher for sites with a preceding forage crop compared with a preceding cereal or potato crop. Plant N accumulation was generally higher in years with warmer growing season temperatures. Soil NO 3 -N content at harvest in exp. 3 was less than 20 kg N ha -1 , indicating that residual soil mineral N content was low at the time of plant N accumulation measurement. Soil NO 3 -N content at planting was generally small relative to plant N accumulation, indicating that soil N supply in this region is controlled primarily by growing season soil N mineralization. Use of a plant bioassay approach provides a practical means to quantify climate, soil and management effects on plant available soil N supply in potato production. Key words: Solanum tuberosum, nitrate, ammonium, N mineralization, plant N accumulation