Oakes
Black Label Zn Starter Fertilizer
Trial on Potatoes
Harlene Hatterman-Valenti and Collin Auwarter
This study was conducted at the
Oakes Irrigation Research Station near Oakes, ND to evaluate various rates of Loveland’s
Black Label Zn applied in-furrow on Russet Burbank potatoes. Plots were 4 rows by 17 feet arranged in a
randomized complete block design with four replicates. Black Label Zn was applied at rates; 3, 6, 9,
and 12 gal/A at planting. There was a
grower standard application with 10-34-0 at 12 gal/A and an untreated that
didn’t receive any additional phosphorus at planting . 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 50 lbs K as 0-0-60 were
applied and incorporated on May 10, 2012.
Closing disks were removed from the planter as we planted potatoes to
expose seed piece in-furrow and applied starter fertilizer. In addition to the Black Label Zn, tank
mixing 28-0-0 urea was added to bring the total N to 100 lbs in each
treatment. At this point, 100 lbs N,
various lbs P, and 50 lbs K. 47 lbs N
was applied on June 14 (tuber initiations stage) and 53 lbs N was applied on
July 25 (early tuber bulking) to bring total N to 200 lbs.
Treatment 1: 3 gal/A Black Label Zn In-furrow at planting
Treatment 2: 6 gal/A Black Label Zn In-furrow at planting
Treatment 3: 9 gal/A Black Label Zn In-furrow at planting
Treatment 4: 12 gal/A Black Label Zn In-furrow at planting
Treatment 5: 12 gal/A 10-34-0 In-furrow at planting
Treatment 6: No starter
Table 1. Effect of Black Label Zn on potato yield and grade and tuber set.
|
Treatment |
---------------------------CWT/A----------------------------- |
------------Tuber Counts in 34 feet------------ |
|||||||||
|
|
Total |
0-4oz |
4-6oz |
6-10oz |
>10oz |
>4oz |
Total |
0-4oz |
4-6oz |
6-10oz |
>10oz |
|
1 |
411 |
118 |
109 |
123 |
61 |
293 |
355 |
193 |
83 |
61 |
18 |
|
2 |
453 |
127 |
116 |
139 |
71 |
326 |
366 |
190 |
88 |
68 |
20 |
|
3 |
459 |
141 |
113 |
138 |
67 |
318 |
400 |
225 |
86 |
70 |
19 |
|
4 |
459 |
152 |
126 |
132 |
49 |
307 |
417 |
241 |
96 |
65 |
15 |
|
5 |
410 |
122 |
119 |
125 |
44 |
288 |
358 |
193 |
90 |
62 |
13 |
|
6 |
408 |
119 |
111 |
117 |
61 |
289 |
353 |
192 |
84 |
58 |
19 |
|
LSD (P=.05) |
89.0 |
28.4 |
27.5 |
36.4 |
46.5 |
81.0 |
89.8 |
43.5 |
21.4 |
18.0 |
12.4 |
Potatoes receiving at least 6 gal/A Black Label Zn in-furrow at planting yielded over 450 cwt/A, and had over 300 cwt/A of marketable tubers. This was approximately 10 and 12% more marketable and total yield, respectively, compared to the 10-34-0 starter treatment or the no starter treatment. Tuber count data suggested that the yield increase was not necessarily due to larger sets since only treatments 3 and 4 averaged 400 or more tubers in 34 ft of row. Tuber set for the no starter fertilizer treatment was approximately 10 tubers/plant, while the highest set occurred with treatment 4 with approximately 12 tubers/plant.
Oakes
Irrigation Research Site