Effects of Sphagnum peat and copper sulfate on productivity of a Ferro-Humic Podzol

2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. E. Parent ◽  
Hong Li ◽  
C. Tremblay ◽  
R. Tahiri ◽  
A. Karam

Sphagnum peat is an abundant resource in the Quebec boreal zone and can be used to improve water retention in sandy soils of low productivity. Our objective was to select a peat application rate suitable for growing potato (Solanum tuberosum L. 'Superior') and barley (Hordeum vulgare L. 'Chapais') on a ferro-humic podzol. The experiment was conducted in Mistassini, Quebec, from 1994 to 1997. Organic matter content (OMC) of a Parent loamy sand was 2.7–2.9% initially. Peat was applied to small plots in a 2-yr potato and 2-yr barley rotation at rates of 0 (control), 29, 48 and 68 t ha−1 on a dry weight basis. A cupric fertilizer trial (0 vs. 2.2 kg Cu ha−1) was combined with the peat treatments. A yearly potato–barley rotation was also established in a nearby field receiving 25 t peat ha−1. The arable layer of peat-amended soils was stratified into a 5.3- to 14.8-cm thick upper layer (A1) down to the limit of peat incorporation, and an underlying layer (A2), averaging 15 cm in thickness, keeping the original soil properties. The highest tuber yield, but reduced tuber specific gravity, were obtained with the 48 t ha−1 treatment compared with the control and the 29 t ha−1 treatments. Peat rates excceeding 29 t ha−1 reduced yield and quality of the barley crop. The Cu concentration in barley and potato diagnostic tissues decreased as peat rate increased. Copper was needed to counteract the detrimental effects of peat amendments on maturation, yield and quality of barley. At field scale, peat increased the lower limit of soil water content for starting irrigation from 0.12 m3m−3 in the control to 0.15 m3m−3 in the peat-amended soil. Irrigation rate should be augmented at each passage, and frequency of waterings diminished, in peat-amended soils compared with the control, due to increased water storage capacity. Peat improved the productivity of the sandy soil up to 4–5% OMC, but could induce Cu shortage in barley. Key words: Soil water, potato, Solanum tuberosum L., barley, Hordeum vulgare L.

1993 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-32
Author(s):  
N. A. Fairey ◽  
L. P. Lefkovitch

SUMMARYA study, conducted in the Peace region of Canada, determined the effects of the stand and management treatments of four herbage experiments (1986–88) on the yield and quality of subsequent crops of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) harvested in 1989 and 1990. Quantitative relationships indicated that the crop management treatments most conducive to good yield and quality of herbage were also the most beneficial for subsequent high yield and quality of the barley grain. Unless designs orthogonal to those previously used can be found, covariance adjustment procedures are recommended to minimize the residual effects of previous experiments.


2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 206 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. PELTONEN-SAINIO ◽  
L. JAUHIAINEN ◽  
K. HAKALA

As the northern hemisphere will experience the greatest increases in temperature and indications of climatic change are already visible in the north (in the 2000s average temperatures exceeded the long-term mean), we sought to establish if there are already signs of increased variability in yield and quality of the major field crops grown under the northernmost European growing conditions: spring and winter cereals (barley Hordeum vulgare L., oat Avena sativa L., wheat Triticum aestivum L., rye Secale cereale L.), spring rapeseed (turnip rape Brassica rapa L., oilseed rape B. napus L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). We used long-term yield datasets of FAO for Finland (1960s to date) and MTT Agrifood Research Finland (MTT) Official Variety Trial datasets on yield and quality of major field crops in Finland since the 1970s. Yield variability was exceptionally high in the 1980s and 1990s, but previously and subsequently national yields were clearly more stable. No progressive increase in yield variability was recorded. No marked and systematic changes in variability of quality traits were recorded, except for rapeseed, which exhibited reduced variability in seed chlorophyll content. This may at least partly attribute to the differences in intensity of input use and thereby responsiveness of the crops before and after 1980 and 1990 decades. We also noted that in the 2000s average temperatures were higher than in earlier decades and this was the case for all months of the growing season except June, which represents, however, the most critical phase for yield determination in most of the field crops in Finland. Also in the 2000s precipitation increased in the first three months of the growing season and thereafter decreased, but without signs of significantly increased numbers of heavy showers (extreme rain events). Hence, in general constant, increased average temperatures during the growing seasons of the 2000s were identified, but with reduced yield variability, which was partly attributable to the diminished use of inputs, especially fertilisers.;


2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 625-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Z. Li ◽  
W. J. Zhou ◽  
Z. J. Zhang ◽  
H. H. Gu ◽  
Y. Takeuchi ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 783-794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramona M. Mohr ◽  
Dale J. Tomasiewicz

Mohr, R. M. and Tomasiewicz, D. J. 2012. Effect of rate and timing of potassium chloride application on the yield and quality of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L. ‘Russet Burbank’). Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 783–794. Potassium is frequently applied to irrigated potato in Manitoba. Field experiments were conducted at two sites in each of 2006, 2007 and 2008 to assess effects of rate and timing of potassium chloride (KCl) application on the yield, quality, and nutrient status of irrigated potato (Solanum tuberosum ‘Russet Burbank’) in southern Manitoba. Preplant application of KCl increased total and marketable yield at one site, and tended (0.05<P ≤ 0.10) to increase total and marketable yield at three additional sites. At three of the four K-responsive sites, soil test K levels were <200 mg NH4OAc-extractable K kg−1, the level below which K fertilizer is recommended based on existing guidelines. Effects of timing of KCl application on total and marketable yield were limited although, averaged across sites, KCl applied at hilling reduced the yield of small tubers (<85 g) and increased the proportion of larger tubers (170 to 340 g) compared with preplant application. Averaged across sites, KCl applied preplant or at hilling reduced specific gravity compared with the 0 KCl treatments. Improvements in fry colour with KCl application were evident at only one site. Petiole and tuber K and Cl− concentration, K and Cl− removal in harvested tubers, and post-harvest soil test K concentration increased with KCl application. However, petiole K concentration measured 82 to 85 d after planting predicted only 24% of the variability in relative marketable yield for sites containing between 164 and 632 mg NH4OAc-extractable K kg−1 to 15 cm. Results demonstrate the potential for yield increases and specific gravity declines with KCl application under Manitoba conditions, but suggest that further research will be required to better predict the potential for yield responses using soil and petiole testing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-137
Author(s):  
Fitsum Gebregwergis ◽  
Mehari Gebremicheal ◽  
Hailay Gebremedhin ◽  
Abraha Asefa

A field experiment was conducted in Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia, during the summer season to determine the effects of flower removal and earthing up time on the tuber yield and quality of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). The experiment comprised three flower removal stages and five earthing up time treatments, which were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) of a 5x3 factorial arrangement with three replications. Data collected on tuber yield and quality parameters were analyzed using SAS version 9.2. The interaction of flower removal stages and earthing up time treatments affected marketable and unmarketable tuber number and yield, total tuber number and yield, large-sized tuber weight, and number of large-sized tubers. The medium and small-sized tubers were also affected by main treatments but not by their interaction treatments. Similarly, dry matter content was significantly (p<0.05) affected by flower removal alone, but not by earthing up time and its interaction with flower removal. Generally, the highest marketable tuber yield (30.25 t ha-1), large-sized tuber weight (424.9 g), the number of large-sized tubers (5), and total tuber yield (30.96 t ha-1) were recorded in the treatment of potato flower removed at the bud stage and earthed up at 15 days after complete emergence. Therefore, the removal of potato flowers at the bud stage and earthing up at 15 days after complete emergence and common cultivation can be practiced for better tuber yield and quality of potato.


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