Wednesday, November 7, 2007
296-8
Boron Fertilization of Potato in Southeastern Idaho.
Russet Burbank potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) was grown at one or two locations in southeastern Idaho each of three years with two, four and six B treatments applied in 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively. Rates were either 0 and 2.2 or 0 and 3.4 kg B ha-1 with various application methods used each year and 0.22-0.28 kg B ha-1 was foliar applied in 2005 and 2006. Total yields averaged 61.0, 46.4 and 39.9 and U.S. No. 1 yields averaged 47.5, 24.9, and 26.5 t ha-1 for 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively. No soil, irrigation nor foliar applied B resulted in significantly increased yield in three years of study. With few exceptions, soil test B at the end of the season generally reflected soil B application in all three years for the four soil tests utilized (hot water, pressurized hot water, DTPA-Sorbitol, and Mehlich III extractions). Average hot water extractable B for B treatments ranged from 0.51 to 1.15 mg kg-1. Some of these sites would have been expected to produce B yield responses in potato. Generally, the alternative methods of DTPA-Sorbitol, pressurized hot water and Mehlich III appeared to be adequate replacements for the laborious hot water extraction. Boron content of potato petiole, tuber and peel tissues did not consistently reflect application of B. The lack of yield response at relatively low available soil B suggests B fertilizer may be over supplied in many potato production systems. Both soil and tissue analysis failed to predict of B fertilizer need.
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