Abstract
Much of commercial potato production in Florida is irrigated using sub-surface seepage irrigation. A perched water table is maintained during the season within 50 cm below the top of the potato ridge. Fertilizer placement is critical in this system to maximize plant uptake and to minimize leaching potential. Optimal placement of fertilizers is dependent on root distribution. The objectives of this study were to develop and test a new methodology to spatially describe potato root distribution as affected by nitrogen rate and irrigation system. Soil slices containing representative samples of the potato root system at full flowering were taken from plots fertilized with ammonium nitrate at 168, 224, and 280 kg N ha−1. The proposed sampling methodology performed satisfactorily. Root length density (cm root cm−3 soil) and specific root length (cm root mg−1 root dry weight) were not affected by nitrogen rate, but were affected by spatial position in the soil profile. The highest root length density value (0.72 average) was observed within 12 to 15 cm of the seedpiece. Low root length density values averaging 0.036 were observed between 24 and 36 cm from the top of the ridge. Specific root length values indicated a relatively homogeneous root system in terms of the quantity of invested biomass by unit of root length except in the two central units below 24 cm from the top of the ridge where thickened roots caused significant lower values averaging 6.47 as compared with the average of 15.87 from the surrounding Units in the slice. Root thickening in deep apical roots suggested aerenchyma formation promoted by a combination of saturated soil conditions in the root zone caused by inappropriate irrigation management and soil compaction. Fertilizer placement under the seedpiece should be a good alternative to increase potato nitrogen uptake under seepage irrigation.
Resumen
La producción comercial de papa en la Florida es irrigada por percolación sub-superficial. Durante la temporada de producción el nivel freático se mantiene a 50 cm por debajo de la cima del caballón donde la papa ha sido sembrada. La localización del fertilizante es un punto crítico en este sistema para maximizar la absorción y minimizar el potencial de lixiviación. La localización óptima del fertilizante depende de la distribución de las raices. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron desarrollar y validar una nueva metodología para describir espacialmente la distribución de las raices de la papa bajo efecto de la dosis de nitrógeno y el sistema de irrigación. En plena floración de la papa fueron muestreados perfiles de suelo conteniendo muestras representativas del sistema radicular de parcelas fertilizadas con nitrato de amonio en dosis de 168, 224, y 280 kg N ha−1. La metodología propuesta funcionó satisfactoriamente. La densidad de longitud de raíces (cm raiz cm−3 suelo) y la longitud radicular específica (cm raiz mg−1 peso seco de raiz) no fueron afectadas por la dosis de nitrógeno pero si por su posición espacial en el perfil del suelo. Los valores mas altos de densidad de longitud de raíces (0.72 en promedio) fueron observados en una zona de 12 a 15 cm circundando la semilla. Entre 24 y 36 cm de profundidad fueron observados valores bajos de densidad de longitud de raíces con 0.036 en promedio. Los valores de longitud radicular específica indicaron un sistema radicular relativamente homogéneo en términos de la cantidad de biomasa invertida por unidad de longitud radicular excepto en los dos ambientes centrales por debajo de 24 cm de profundidad donde raíces engrosadas causaron bajos valores significativos promediando 6.47 comparados con el valor promedio de 15.87 observado en el resto de los ambientes estudiados. El engrosamiento apical en raíces profundas sugieren la formación de aerénquima promovido por la combinación de saturación del suelo en la zona radicular causada por manejo inapropiado de la irrigación, y compactación del suelo. La colocación del fertilizante debajo de la semilla de la papa podría ser una buena alternativa para incrementar la absorción de nitrógeno en condiciones de irrigación por percolación.
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Abbreviations
- RDW:
-
root dry weight
- RLD:
-
root length density
- RSAD:
-
root surface area density
- SDW:
-
soil dry weight
- SVOL:
-
soil volume
- SWW:
-
soil wet weight
- SRL:
-
specific root length
- SRSA:
-
specific root surface area
- TRL:
-
total root length
- TRSA:
-
total root surface area
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Munoz-Arboleda, F., Mylavarapu, R.S., Hutchinson, C.M. et al. Root distribution under seepage-irrigated potatoes in Northeast Florida. Am. J. Pot Res 83, 463–472 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02883507
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02883507