ARS | Publication request: Soil phosphorus changes impacted by potato cropping management

Submitted to: Northeast Potato Technology Forum
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 1, 2011
Publication Date: March 16, 2011
Citation: He, Z., Larkin, R.P., Olanya, O.M., Halloran, J.M. 2011. Soil phosphorus changes impacted by potato cropping management. Northeast Potato Technology Forum. March 16-17, 2011; P26.

Technical Abstract: Potato crops generally require high amounts of phosphorus (P) fertilizer to reach economically acceptable yields as the low root density of potato plants makes mobilization and acquisition of phosphate a key factor in potato plant growth. In this work, we evaluated soil P changes in 10 potato fields that had been subjected to different three-year crop rotations with and without irrigation. As only inorganic fertilizer was applied to these fields, these management practices mainly affected the distribution of inorganic P fractions, with little significant changes in organic P fractions. Crop rotation and irrigation affected soil P distribution in two different patterns. The most labile P fraction, i.e. water extractable P, was significantly impacted by crop rotation, with the highest water extractable P found in the continuous potato and soil improving crop management systems. Irrigation had greater influence on stable and recalcitrant P fractions (i.e. NaOH and HCl extractable inorganic P). Correlation analysis suggested soil pH was the major factor contributing to the conversion of P between different fractions. More field data from short and long experimental periods are needed to confirm these observations.