Nitrate Leaching and Nitrogen Recovery Following Application of Polyolefin‐Coated Urea to Potato

High N fertilizer and irrigation amounts applied to potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) on coarse‐textured soils often result in nitrate (NO 3 ) leaching and low recovery of applied fertilizer N. This 3‐yr study compared the effects of two rates (140 and 280 kg N ha −1 ) of a single polyolefin‐coated urea (PCU) application versus split applications of urea on ‘Russet Burbank’ potato yield and on NO 3 leaching and N recovery efficiency (RE) on a loamy sand. Standard irrigation was applied in all years and excessive irrigation was used in another experiment in the third year. At the recommended rate of 280 kg N ha −1 , NO 3 leaching during the growing season was 34 to 49% lower with PCU than three applications of urea. Under standard irrigation in the third year, leaching from five applications of urea (280 kg N ha −1 ) was 38% higher than PCU. Under leaching conditions in the first year (≥25 mm drainage water in at least one 24‐h period) and excessive irrigation in the third year, PCU at 280 kg N ha −1 improved total and marketable tuber yields by 12 to 19% compared with three applications of urea. Fertilizer N RE estimated by the difference and 15 N isotope methods at the 280 kg N ha −1 rate was, on average, higher with PCU (mean 50%) than urea (mean 43%). Fertilizer N RE values estimated by the isotope method (mean 51%) were greater than those estimated by the difference method (mean 47%). Results from this study indicate that PCU can reduce leaching and improve N recovery and tuber yield during seasons with high leaching.