Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Carrington Research Extension Center * North Dakota State University
P.O. Box 531, Oakes, ND 58474-0531, Phone: (701) 742-2744, FAX: (701) 742-2700, E-mail: Walter.Albus@ndsu.edu

Potato Starter Fertilizer Trial

Harlene Hatterman-Valenti and Collin Auwarter

This study was conducted at the Oakes Irrigation Research Station to evaluate various rates of in-furrow starter fertilizer on Russet Burbank potato. Plots were 4 rows by 17 feet arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Starter fertilizers, fert-A and fert-B, was tank-mixed and applied at different rates (shown below). There was also a grower standard application with 10-34-0 at 25 gal/A and an untreated that didn’t receive any starter fertilizer. Soil tests taken prior to the trial showed 24 lb N, 17 ppm P, and 145 ppm K. Pre-plant applications of 51 lbs N as 46-0-0 and 200 lbs K (grower standard application, treatment 2) or 140 lbs K (treatments 3-6) as 0-0-60 were applied and incorporated on May 10, 2012. Closing disks were removed from the planter as we planted potatoes to allow in-furrow application of starter fertilizers. In addition to fert-A and fert-B, 28% urea was tank mixed to bring the total N to 100 lbs in each treatment. Fertilizer amounts after planting were 100 lbs N, various lbs P, 200 lbs K in treatment 2, and 140 lbs K in treatments 3-6. Nitrogen, as 28-0-0 was stream barred and immediately irrigated with 0.30” irrigation on June 25 (47 lbs) and July 25 (53 lbs). Potatoes were harvested October 9 with a single-row digger and graded in Fargo.

Table 1. Effect of fertilizer treatments on potato yield and grade.

Trt

Form

Rate

App

--------------------------CWT/A------------------------

Name

Conc

Type

Rate

Unit

Code

Total

0-4oz

4-6oz

6-10oz

>10oz

>4oz

28%

lb ai/a

380

106

120

274

28%

lb ai/a

46%

lb ai/a

470

117

109

149

353

60%

200

lb ai/a

10-34-0

10,34%

gal/a

28%

lb ai/a

28%

lb ai/a

46%

lb ai/a

493

129

101

164

364

60%

140

lb ai/a

^Fert-A

gal/a

^Fert-B

gal/a

28%

lb ai/a

28/%

lb ai/a

46%

lb ai/a

549

122

118

184

125

427

60%

140

lb ai/a

^Fert-A

gal/a

^Fert-B

gal/a

28%

lb ai/a

28%

lb ai/a

46%

lb ai/a

455

144

121

311

60%

140

lb ai/a

^Fert-A

gal/a

^Fert-B

gal/a

28%

lb ai/a

*Foliar

28%

lb ai/a

*Foliar

46%

lb ai/a

435

133

302

60%

140

lb ai/a

^Fert-A

gal/a

^Fert-B

gal/a

28%

lb ai/a

*Foliar

28%

lb ai/a

*Foliar

LSD (P=.05)

125

119

Table 2. Effect of fertilizer treatments on the number of tubers produced.

Trt	Trt	Form	Form		Rate	App	----------Tuber Count in 34 feet--------
No	Name	Conc	Type	Rate	Unit	Code	Total	0-4oz	4-6oz	6-10oz	>10oz
1	N	28%	L	47	lb ai/a	C	369	212	80	59	18
	N	28%	L	53	lb ai/a	E
2	N	46%	GR	51	lb ai/a	A	354	198	73	63	20
	K	60%	GR	200	lb ai/a	A
	10-34-0	10,34%	L	25	gal/a	B
	N	28%	L	47	lb ai/a	B
	N	28%	L	53	lb ai/a	E
3	N	46%	GR	51	lb ai/a	A	423	246	79	70	28
	K	60%	GR	140	lb ai/a	A
	^Fert-A	na	L	15	gal/a	B
	^Fert-B	na	L	3	gal/a	B
	N	28%	L	47	lb ai/a	C
	N	28/%	L	53	lb ai/a	E
4	N	46%	GR	51	lb ai/a	A	356	187	75	68	26
	N	60%	GR	140	lb ai/a	A
	^Fert-A	na	L	10	gal/a	B
	^Fert-B	na	L	2	gal/a	B
	N	28%	L	47	lb ai/a	C
	N	28%	L	53	lb ai/a	E
5	N	46%	GR	51	lb ai/a	A	377	229	72	54	22
	K	60%	GR	140	lb ai/a	A
	^Fert-A	na	L	15	gal/a	B
	^Fert-B	na	L	3	gal/a	B
	N	28%	L	47	lb ai/a	C
	*Foliar	na	L	na	na	D
	N	28%	L	53	lb ai/a	E
	*Foliar	na	L	na	na	F
6	N	46%	GR	51	lb ai/a	A	383	236	69	59	19
	K	60%	GR	140	lb ai/a	A
	^Fert-A	na	L	10	gal/a	B
	^Fert-B	na	L	2	gal/a	B
	N	28%	L	47	lb ai/a	C
	*Foliar	na	L	na	na	D
	N	28%	L	53	lb ai/a	E
	*Foliar	na	L	na	na	F
LSD (P=.05)							99	66	24	25	11

^Fert –A & B – Confidential

*Foliar – Confidential Fertilizer application code:

A = 5/14/12 – Treatments 2-6 @ Pre-plant

B = 5/14/12 – Treatments 2-6 @ Planting

C = 6/25/12 – Treatments 1-6 @ Tuber initiation

D = na

E = 7/25/12 – Treatments 1-6 @ Early tuber bulking

F = na

Potatoes receiving treatment 4 had the highest total yield at 549 cwt/A, and highest marketable yield at 427 cwt/A. The total and marketable yield was 17 and 21% higher, respectively, than the grower standard (treatment 2). Total tuber counts for treatments 2 and 4 were similar, while the distribution for the various grade categories indicated a shift towards larger tubers with treatment 4.

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