| Abstract Detail
Production and Management Porter, Gregory [1], Ocaya, Paul [2]. Shepody Yield, Quality, and Nitrogen Uptake in Two-year Grain and Green Manure Rotations. CROP rotation is an important component of a potato production system. Potatoes in Maine tend to be grown alternately with barley or oats in two-year rotations due to limited land availability and opportunities for rotation crop marketing. This study was established to: 1) determine if two-year rotations with green manures could improve potato (cv. Shepody) yield and quality relative to a standard, potato-oat rotation; and 2) determine the effects of green manures on potato nitrogen (N) nutrition. The green manure rotation crops compared were: a) oat/pea/vetch; b) peas undersown with white clover; and c) oats undersown with ryegrass. Data from the 2004 and 2005 growing seasons, representing the 7th and 8th cropping cycles, will be presented. Soil properties, crop vigor, incidence of selected potato diseases, yield, quality, and N uptake were measured. The pea/clover rotation produced very good yields without N fertilizer, had the best late-season crop vigor, and the least leaf browning. It contributed up to 112 kg/ha more N to the potato crop than did the standard potato-oat rotation. Pea/oat/vetch contributed 22 to 34 kg/ha more N than the standard, while oats/ryegrass contributed only 5 to 11 kg/ha. While these rotations offer advantages that are not related to N fertility (e.g. greater soil cover for erosion prevention), we observed yield advantages only at low N fertilizer rates.
Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - University of Maine, Department of Plant, Soil & Environmental Sciences, 5722 Deering Hall, Orono, Maine, 04469-5722, USA
2 - University of Maine, Department of Plant, Soil & Environmental Sciences, Aroostook Research Farm, 59 Houlton Road, Presque Isle, Maine, 04769, USA
Keywords:
crop rotation
nitrogen
green manure
Yield and quality.
Session: PAA13-2
Location: Hall of Ideas Room E/Monona Terrace
Date: Tuesday, July 25th, 2006
Time: 1:45 PM
Abstract ID:186 |
