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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Orono, Maine » New England Plant, Soil and Water Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #193082
Title: SOIL NUTRIENT ACCUMULATION IN AMENDED POTATO SYSTEMS

Author
item Griffin, Timothy
item PORTER, GREG - UNIV OF MAINE
item ERICH, SUE - UNIV OF MAINE
item MALLORY, ELLEN - UNIV OF MAINE

Submitted to: Northeast Potato Technology Forum Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2006
Publication Date: 3/31/2006
Citation: Griffin, T.S., Porter, G., Erich, S., Mallory, E. 2006. Soil nutrient accumulation in amended potato systems. Northeast Potato Technology Forum Abstracts. CD

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In the Northeast U.S. and Atlantic Canada, potatoes are usually grown in rotation with either other vegetable crops or with grain or green manure crops. These short rotations, coupled with the intensive tillage associated with potato management (primary tillage, secondary tillage, cultivation, hilling, and digging) have substantially reduced soil organic matter concentration on the sandy soils typically used for producing potatoes. One common strategy to reverse this trend is to apply amendments, including compost, manure, mulch, and other materials. Because these materials are commonly thought of as soil conditioners, the loading of nutrients is often overlooked. Long-term experiments in Maine (15 years of amendment) demonstrate rapid increases in soil carbon with the application of compost and solid manure. However, a positive mass balance of applied phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) also resulted in increased soil concentration of both nutrients over time, even when fertilizer N and P applications were reduced or eliminated. Soil phosphorus saturation and soluble P in amended systems were notably higher than in fertilized systems, which has implications for P movement in the environment.