Potato Yield Response and Seasonal Nitrate Leaching as Influenced by Nitrogen Management

Nitrate leaching is of great environmental concern, particularly with potatoes grown on sandy soils. This 3-year study evaluated the effect of three N rates (100, 150, and 200 kg ha(-1)) of single applications of polymer-coated urea (PCU) and a 75% PCU + 25% urea mixture, plus a conventional split application of 200 kg N ha(-1) of a 50% ammonium sulfate + 50% calcium ammonium nitrate mixture (CONV) on NO3--N leaching, potato yield, and N uptake under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions on a sandy soil in Quebec (Canada). Fertilizer N application increased growing season NO3--N leaching only under irrigation. On average, irrigation increased seasonal NO3--N leaching by 52%. Under irrigated conditions, PCU reduced NO3--N leaching compared to PCU + urea. However, both PCU and PCU + urea significantly increased NO3--N leaching compared to the CONV at the equivalent N rate of 200 kg N ha(-1). This was attributed to the timing of soil N availability and deep-water percolation. Total (TY) and marketable (MY) yields in the CONV were similar to those in the PCU applied at the equivalent N rate of 200 kg N ha(-1). Despite lower plant N uptake, PCU resulted in greater TY and MY compared to PCU + urea. Residual soil inorganic N was greater for PCU and PCU + urea compared to the CONV, providing evidence that PCU products have the potential to increase NO3--N leaching after the growing season. In this study, PCU was an agronomically and environmentally better choice than PCU + urea. The results also showed that the efficiency of PCU to reduce seasonal NO3--N leaching may vary according to the timing of precipitation and irrigation.

Automated summary

Nitrate leaching is a significant environmental concern, especially for potatoes grown on sandy soils. This study found that under irrigation, the use of PCU reduced NO3--N leaching compared to PCU + urea, but both increased leaching compared to the conventional fertilizer mixture. Despite lower plant N uptake, PCU resulted in greater yields compared to PCU + urea, showing that the efficiency of PCU in reducing NO3--N leaching may vary depending on precipitation and irrigation timing.