Articles
THE EFFECT OF FERTIGATION ON YIELD AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE OF CABBAGE, CARROT AND ONION
Article number
571_28
Pages
235 – 241
Language
English
Abstract
Fertigation was compared to broadcast application of solid NPK fertilizer with cabbage, carrot and onion.
In the broadcast application, P and K were given as a single application in spring and N was split according to the existing recommendations.
In the fertigation applications, nutrients were given according to the expected nutrient uptake rate based on previous Finnish experiments.
Growth and nutrient uptake were monitored by monthly samplings.
In 1998, growing season was extremely rainy, and N leaching from conventional broadcast application was expected.
However, leaching seemed to have no impact in the sandy experimental soil, as broadcast application resulted in good growth of cabbage and onion.
In 1999, natural rainfall was low, and irrigation was applied according to the tensiometer measurements.
Treatments did not affect carrot and onion growth, but cabbage growth and nutrient uptake were still decreased by fertigation towards the middle of the growing period.
At harvest, cabbage yields and nutrient uptakes were similar between the treatments.
Cabbage yields averaged to over 90 t ha-1 in both years.
At harvest, total nutrient uptakes were N 213-243 kg ha-1, P 36-40 kg ha-1 and K 302-345 kg ha-1. Carrot yielded according to the samplings close to 90 t ha-1 and nutrient uptake in roots and leaves was N 180-190 kg ha-1, P 23-30 kg ha-1 and K 325-444 kg ha-1. Onion yielded 40-50 t ha-1, with uptakes of 117-166 kg ha-1 N, 18-28 kg ha-1 P and 117-136 kg ha-1 K. Fertigation did not increase nutrient use efficiency in these experimental conditions.
Soil was not prone to leaching and adequate moisture in rooting layer created good conditions for nutrient uptake throughout the season in all treatments.
In the broadcast application, P and K were given as a single application in spring and N was split according to the existing recommendations.
In the fertigation applications, nutrients were given according to the expected nutrient uptake rate based on previous Finnish experiments.
Growth and nutrient uptake were monitored by monthly samplings.
In 1998, growing season was extremely rainy, and N leaching from conventional broadcast application was expected.
However, leaching seemed to have no impact in the sandy experimental soil, as broadcast application resulted in good growth of cabbage and onion.
In 1999, natural rainfall was low, and irrigation was applied according to the tensiometer measurements.
Treatments did not affect carrot and onion growth, but cabbage growth and nutrient uptake were still decreased by fertigation towards the middle of the growing period.
At harvest, cabbage yields and nutrient uptakes were similar between the treatments.
Cabbage yields averaged to over 90 t ha-1 in both years.
At harvest, total nutrient uptakes were N 213-243 kg ha-1, P 36-40 kg ha-1 and K 302-345 kg ha-1. Carrot yielded according to the samplings close to 90 t ha-1 and nutrient uptake in roots and leaves was N 180-190 kg ha-1, P 23-30 kg ha-1 and K 325-444 kg ha-1. Onion yielded 40-50 t ha-1, with uptakes of 117-166 kg ha-1 N, 18-28 kg ha-1 P and 117-136 kg ha-1 K. Fertigation did not increase nutrient use efficiency in these experimental conditions.
Soil was not prone to leaching and adequate moisture in rooting layer created good conditions for nutrient uptake throughout the season in all treatments.
Authors
T. Salo, T. Suojala, M. Kallela
Keywords
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, Allium cepa L., Brassica oleracea var. capitata L., Daucus carota L.
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