| Authors |
| Wilkinson, S., Marks, D.J. & Weston, A.K. |
| Levity Crop Science Ltd., The Rural Business Centre, Myerscough College, Bilsborrow PR3 0RY, UK |
| Publish Date; 26 February 202o |
| Abstract |
| Technologies for stabilising urea N in fertiliser, preventing its breakdown to pollutants, and prolonging its availability for plants, have been developed. We have already shown that chemically stabilising ureic amine N in foliar fertilisers applied to potato crops in the field increases yield. Greenhouse trials demonstrated that this was due to increases in root growth and leaf chlorophyll content. Here we report results from UK field trials on Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Shelford showing that stabilised amine-induced increases in yield can be manipulated to shift tuber size distribution. Overall yield is greatest when four rather than three applications are made over the growing season. However, when applications are limited to three, a greater percentage of the harvested tubers falls within the 60-80 mm size category when a final application, at tuber bulking, remains within the program. When the final bulking application is left out, and a tuber initiation application remains within the program, a greater percentage of the harvest is comprised of tubers within the 40-60 mm size category. The ability to target a particular size category can enable farmers to match fertiliser regime to market; for example large tubers for chipping, or small tubers for seed and salad. |
| Keywords |
| Nitrogen, Yield, Photosynthesis, Potato |
| Main Subjects |
| Potato, Plant Nutrition |
