Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Boron and Chloride Concentration, Yield and Quality in Potato

• Published in: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis Vol. 55; no. 6; pp. 828 - 845
• Main Authors: Cassino, María Natalia, Giletto, Claudia Marcela, Zamuner, Ester Cristina, Sainz Rozas, Hernán René, Barbieri, Pablo Andrés, Reussi Calvo, Nahuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 25-03-2024; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Anionic micronutrients; Anions; Availability; Biological fertilization; Boron; Chlorides; Crop production; Dry matter; Fertilization; foliar analysis; Leaves; Micronutrients; Nitrogen; nutrient uptake; Nutrition; Nutrition assessment; Nutritional status; Potatoes; soil testing; Tubers; Yields
• ISSN: 0010-3624; 1532-2416; 1532-4133
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2023.2282991

Nitrogen (N) availability affects the boron (B) and chloride (Cl) concentrations in potato plants. The objective of our study was to evaluate: 1) the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilization on boron (B) and chloride (Cl) concentration in leaves and tubers, yield and tuber quality; and 2) the use of nitrogen nutrition index in shoot biomass (NNI
sh
) and in the tuber at harvest (NNI
tH
) to estimate B and Cl nutrition status. Two trials were carried out (2009/10 and 2010/11). At each year, a split-plot randomized complete blotuber B uptakeck design with three replications was used. The main plot was the N rate applied at planting (0 or 50 kg N ha
−1
), and the subplots were the N rate applied at tuber initiation (0, 50 or 100 kg N ha
−1
). Our results showed that leaf B concentration and yield increased with N availability (13% and 5%, respectively). While leaf and tuber Cl concentration and DM decreased with N availability (16%, 18% and 3%, respectively). Moreover, the NNI
sh
was related to the leaf B and Cl concentration and relative yield. The NNI
tH
was also closely related to dry matter (DM), B and Cl concentrations in tubers at harvest. This study demonstrated that N fertilization affected the concentration of B and Cl in leaf and tuber and that NNIsh and NNI
tH
estimated the nutritional status of anionic micronutrients. Therefore, simultaneous N, B and Cl management is critical for increasing their use efficiencies and improving crop productivity.