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Influence of Soil Amendments on Potato Growth, Mineral Nutrition, and Tuber Yield and Quality on Very Strongly Acid Soils¹

ABSTRACT

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) were grown in greenhouse soil pot cultures to evaluate soil amendments that might modify the fertility of very strongly acid Ultisols and improve potato production. Raising soil pH from 4.6 to either 4.9 or 5.2 with dolomitic limestone increased tuber yield and improved tuber quality. Superphosphate applied alone or in combination with dolomitic limestone also increased tuber yield. Tuber specific gravities were not improved with superphosphate alone, but only with combinations of superphosphate and dolomitic limestone. Cow manure applications increased tuber yield, but did not improve tuber specific gravity or quality. Manganese toxicity symptoms and potato leaf Mn content increased with cow manure applications. Magnesium sulfate alone or in combination with superphosphate was beneficial to potato tuber yield. Tuber quality was also improved with the combination of magnesium sulfate and superphosphate. The application of either potassium bicarbonate or Fe chelate did not improve potato growth, tuber yield, or quality. It was concluded that potato production on very strongly acid Ultisols can be improved either by raising soil pH to 4.9 with dolomitic limestone or by the application of Ca phosphate and Mg fertilizers without raising soil pH. Cow manure also improved potato tuber yield but did not improve tuber quality.

¹ Contribution from Agriculture Canada, Research Station Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

² Research Soil Scientist and Technical Research Assistant, respectively. Senior author is presently located at Environmental Effects Laboratory, U. S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS 39180.

Accepted for publication February 3, 1977.