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Utilization of Residual Fertility by Potatoes
Author(s) -
Struchtemeyer R. A.,
Cunningham C. E.,
Carpenter P. N.
Publication year - 1955
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1955.03615995001900020026x
Subject(s) - acre , fertilizer , potassium , phosphorus , potash , yield (engineering) , soil fertility , human fertilization , agronomy , nutrient , soil water , environmental science , zoology , mathematics , toxicology , biology , chemistry , ecology , soil science , materials science , organic chemistry , metallurgy
Inherently the soils of Maine do not possess a high natural fertility. Analyses of virgin samples show that such soils contain about 5% of organic matter, 44 pounds of readily soluble P 2 O 5 per acre, and 76 pounds of exchangeable K 2 O per acre and have pH readings ranging from 4.5 to 5.0. As a result of intensive fertilization over a period of years the amount of P 2 O 5 per acre has increased to about 100 pounds per acre, and the amount of K 2 O has increased to about 200 pounds per acre. The Katahdin variety of potatoes was grown. The fertilizer applications were 2,000 pounds of each of the following fertilizers: 6‐0‐0, 6‐9‐0, 6‐0‐9, and 6‐9‐9. The fertilizer was applied each time the plot was in potatoes. The yield results showed that dropping phosphorus out of the fertilizer significantly decreased the yields in all cases. In 1951 the climination of potassium did not significantly reduce the yield. In 1952 the elimination of potassium did cause a significant decrease in yield. It would appear that potatoes can mine the potassium reserves in the soil more efficiently than the phosphorus reserves.