Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Potato crop growth as affected by nitrogen and plant density

Crescimento da batateira influenciado por nitrogênio e densidade de plantio

Abstracts

Growth and development variables and dry matter characteristics were studied for cultivar Snowden of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to evaluate nitrogen and plant density influence. Disregarding ending of season plant stress, the average number of actives haulms per plant was five and it was not affected by plant spacing. However, seasonal and final number of active haulms per plant were increased at 200 kg/ha of nitrogen. Maximum stem elongation was reached quickly with double density and had the tendency to keep constant at the highest and lowest nitrogen levels after 70 days after planting. Specific stem mass defined as mass per unit stem length was established as an indirect measure of stem thickness and load capacity. Specific leaf mass position in plant was higher at upper stem leaves, increased as plant density increased and did not vary markedly over time throughout the season. The rate of leaf appearance increased drastically due to more branching caused by high nitrogen level, and increased above ground dry matter per plant. Canopy growth and development influenced main tuber yield components. The number of active tubers per haulm decreased after 60 days after planting showing that tuberization is reversible. Tuber growth functions were established allowing the estimate of dry biomass partitioning coefficients for each plant organ.

Snowden cultivar; plant nutrition; canopy; leaf area; tubers; stems; dry matter; plant population


Foram estudadas variáveis de crescimento e desenvolvimento e características da matéria seca da batata (Solanum tuberosum L.), cultivar Snowden, com o objetivo de avaliar a influência do nitrogênio e da densidade de plantio. Desconsiderando o estresse da planta ao final da estação, o número médio de hastes ativas por planta foi de cinco, e não foi afetado pelo espaçamento entre plantas. Entretanto, o número médio estacional e final de hastes ativas por planta foi aumentado com 200 kg/ha de nitrogênio. O comprimento máximo do caule foi atingido rapidamente quando se dobrou a densidade de plantio, e apresentou a tendência de ficar constante nos níveis mais alto e mais baixo de nitrogênio, 70 dias após o plantio. A massa de caule específica, definida como massa por unidade de comprimento de caule, foi estabelecida como uma estimativa da espessura e capacidade de suporte do caule. A massa de folha específica, por posição na planta, foi maior nas folhas mais altas do caule, aumentou com a densidade de plantio, e não variou acentuadamente com o tempo durante o ciclo da cultura. A taxa de surgimento de folhas aumentou acentuadamente, em virtude da maior formação de ramos, causada pelo alto nível de nitrogênio, aumentando a matéria seca acima do solo, por planta. O crescimento e desenvolvimento da parte aérea da planta influenciou os componentes de produção dos tubérculos. O número de tubérculos ativos por haste diminuiu depois de 60 dias após o plantio, o que mostra que a tuberização é reversível. Funções de crescimento de tubérculos foram ajustadas, permitindo estimar coeficientes de partição de biomassa seca de cada parte da planta.

cultivar Snowden; nutrição de planta; cobertura vegetal; superfície foliar; tubérculo; haste; matéria seca; população de planta


POTATO CROP GROWTH AS AFFECTED BY NITROGEN AND PLANT DENSITY1

CARLOS ALBERTO DA SILVA OLIVEIRA2 1 Accepted for publication on May 28, 1999. 2 Agronomist, Ph.D., Embrapa-Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Hortaliças (CNPH), Caixa Postal 0218, CEP 70359-970 Brasília, DF, Brazil. E-mail: dasilvao@unb.br

ABSTRACT - Growth and development variables and dry matter characteristics were studied for cultivar Snowden of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to evaluate nitrogen and plant density influence. Disregarding ending of season plant stress, the average number of actives haulms per plant was five and it was not affected by plant spacing. However, seasonal and final number of active haulms per plant were increased at 200 kg/ha of nitrogen. Maximum stem elongation was reached quickly with double density and had the tendency to keep constant at the highest and lowest nitrogen levels after 70 days after planting. Specific stem mass defined as mass per unit stem length was established as an indirect measure of stem thickness and load capacity. Specific leaf mass position in plant was higher at upper stem leaves, increased as plant density increased and did not vary markedly over time throughout the season. The rate of leaf appearance increased drastically due to more branching caused by high nitrogen level, and increased above ground dry matter per plant. Canopy growth and development influenced main tuber yield components. The number of active tubers per haulm decreased after 60 days after planting showing that tuberization is reversible. Tuber growth functions were established allowing the estimate of dry biomass partitioning coefficients for each plant organ.

Index terms: Snowden cultivar, plant nutrition, canopy, leaf area, tubers, stems, dry matter, plant population.

CRESCIMENTO DA BATATEIRA INFLUENCIADO POR NITROGÊNIO E DENSIDADE DE PLANTIO

RESUMO - Foram estudadas variáveis de crescimento e desenvolvimento e características da matéria seca da batata (Solanum tuberosum L.), cultivar Snowden, com o objetivo de avaliar a influência do nitrogênio e da densidade de plantio. Desconsiderando o estresse da planta ao final da estação, o número médio de hastes ativas por planta foi de cinco, e não foi afetado pelo espaçamento entre plantas. Entretanto, o número médio estacional e final de hastes ativas por planta foi aumentado com 200 kg/ha de nitrogênio. O comprimento máximo do caule foi atingido rapidamente quando se dobrou a densidade de plantio, e apresentou a tendência de ficar constante nos níveis mais alto e mais baixo de nitrogênio, 70 dias após o plantio. A massa de caule específica, definida como massa por unidade de comprimento de caule, foi estabelecida como uma estimativa da espessura e capacidade de suporte do caule. A massa de folha específica, por posição na planta, foi maior nas folhas mais altas do caule, aumentou com a densidade de plantio, e não variou acentuadamente com o tempo durante o ciclo da cultura. A taxa de surgimento de folhas aumentou acentuadamente, em virtude da maior formação de ramos, causada pelo alto nível de nitrogênio, aumentando a matéria seca acima do solo, por planta. O crescimento e desenvolvimento da parte aérea da planta influenciou os componentes de produção dos tubérculos. O número de tubérculos ativos por haste diminuiu depois de 60 dias após o plantio, o que mostra que a tuberização é reversível. Funções de crescimento de tubérculos foram ajustadas, permitindo estimar coeficientes de partição de biomassa seca de cada parte da planta.

Termos para indexação: cultivar Snowden, nutrição de planta, cobertura vegetal, superfície foliar, tubérculo, haste, matéria seca, população de planta.

INTRODUCTION

Plant growth analysis is usually based on total and plant parts dry matter, size and numbers of different parts per plant or per sample and number of shoots per unit ground area. From these values growth characteristics (various indexes, ratios and coefficients) are calculated. These growth characteristics allow to describe the growth of the plant or plant organ and the relationship between the assimilatory apparatus and dry matter production (Sands et al., 1983).

Potato is an undetermined growth plant in which leaves and branch architecture can be modeled in different ways depending on model complexity and the number of state variables involved. Nevertheless, understanding and quantifying above and below ground plant phenology according to different environmental factors (Millard & MacKerron, 1986; Ojala et al., 1990) and cultivars (Zaag et al., 1990) is an important step toward an adequate modeling of potato growth and development.

Soil nitrogen sources and split N fertilizer applications have a major role in maintaining an optimum plant canopy and tuber growth (Westermann & Davis, 1992). However, there is little quantitative information available on how N affects expansion, final size and duration of different plant organs, furthermore, some results are contrasting. It was found (Firman & Allen, 1988) that leaves of field crops provided with ample N had shorter life spans than comparable ones from N deficient crops. In contrast, Vos & Biemond (1992) observed a positive effect of high rates of N supply on the leaf longevity for potted plants, in the order of three weeks.

Availability of N in the soil is highly dependent on N mineralization (Ritz et al., 1992) and N leaching processes. It may vary markedly during the growing season and somehow affect haulm branching (Millard & MacKerron, 1986) and crop productivity. Also, different plant densities play an important role on plant N uptake, affecting yield quality and quantity, especially when considering potato seed production, usually oriented to produce small size tubers by reducing plant spacing.

Snowden is a recently developed, long cycle processing potato cultivar that already accounted for 34% of total Michigan planted area in 1993 (Michigan Potato Industry Commission, 1994). However, information about its canopy growth and development characteristics is missing.

The main objective of this paper was to study Snowden growth, development and dry matter distribution within the plant as affected by different levels of N and plant population and to establish characteristics necessary to current models of the productive process.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

On May 5, 1994, sprouted (about 2 mm) whole and tuber seed pieces with about 55 g were manually planted in 0.1 m deep furrows spaced 0.86 m apart on McBride sandy loam (Latitude 43.3 North). Treatments analyzed were part of a randomized complete block experiment. Single (SD) and double (DD) densities treatments used had 3.81 (0.3 m apart), and 7.62 plants per m2 (0.15 m apart). Banding N treatments in kg/ha at planting, first and second side dresses were: 40-0-0 (window plot); 40-60-40; 40-160-0 and 40-80-30 and were designated 40SD, 140SD, 200SD and 150DD, respectively. First and second side dress were applied at 42 and 78 days after planting (dap). The emergency date was established when about 50% of the plants emerged. One vine killer was applied at 113 days after planting, and final harvest was done at 126 days after planting.

Fig. 1A shows adopted terminology and the morphological scheme of the potato plant without considering leaves and leaf stipules (special leaves or leaflets emerging from axillas). First order apical branches developed from the second, third or fourth axile located right below the stem inflorescence. Second and higher order apical branches developed as shown. Basal branches emerged from lower axillas and developed earlier. Stems emerged from the seed tuber and terminated at the inflorescence or its rudiments. Secondary stems or branches, which originated from below ground axillas in small amounts (Allen & Wurr, 1973), were not differentiated from the stem. Thus, each haulm was formed by one stem, branches, inflorescence, leaves, leaf stipules, stolon, tubers, and roots. The root system was not evaluated in this study since it generally comprises less than 3% of the total dry biomass (Manrique et al., 1991).


Plant organs were considered senescent when they were totally banded or fallen apart or when at least 50% of their extension had dried.

Above ground stem length and mass were measured allowing to define the specific stem mass as dry mass (mg) per unit of stem length (cm). Maximum stem length was estimated from the last three values obtained after 70 days after planting.

Twelve plants per treatment were used to estimate the average number of active haulms per plant during the season (42, 49, 55, 63, 77, 90, and 104 days after planting). Data were analyzed, considering time as a subplot additional factor.

Six average active haulms per plant and treatment (two samples of three plants each collected with an interval of four days) were cut at the soil surface and analyzed allowing the evaluation of leaf length, area and mass. Active foliar area was measured with a LICOR-3100 area meter and dry matter (after 48 hours at 60ºC) in a 0.001 g balance. Excluding leaf stipules, which were evaluated separately, leaf length was measured from petiole insertion on the stem to leaf tip. Such measurements allowed an estimate of leaf area by the equation stated in Fig. 1B. Leaf position on the stem and branches (leaf number) was numbered in ascending order from one (bottom) to n (top), respectively. Top leaves smaller than 0.03 m were disregarded to reduce measurement errors. Specific leaf mass (dry mass per unit of leaf area) was calculated for each leaf. Leaf area (leaves + leaf stipules) per plant was estimated multiplying leaf area per haulm by the number of active haulms per plant, in order to compute leaf area index. Mass of senescent leaves was obtained from the last leaf mass average observed for the respective leaf number. Dry mass of apical and basal branches were also evaluated.

The yield component number of tubers per haulm was obtained dividing total tubers per plant by the average number of active haulms per plant (excluding final values). Tuber growth was evaluated at 63, 77, 90 and 105 days after planting from ten plants sampled on an adjacent plot with 40 and 80 kg/ha of N applied at first and second side dress and designated 120SD. Only tubers from stolons with a swollen tip bigger than 0.001 m were counted and weighed. Mass and number of active stolons were also recorded.

A below ground or tuber growth logistic equation, Ft(dap), similar to the one described by Berger (1981), was given by Y = 1 / { D+ c. exp[u.(Xo - X)]} and used to fit data, where Y was the tuber dry matter in g/plant, D was the reciprocal of maximum (final) yield for the treatment, c was obtained by the difference 1 / yo - D where yo was the average tuber dry matter at tuber bulking initiation, u is the average growth constant, Xo is the number of days after planting for the assumed yo, and X is any number of days after planting between tuber initiation and harvest (Xo £ X £ X final). In order to fit visually field data, tuber bulking initiation was found by trial and error. Only three development stages were considered in this analysis: from planting to emergence (emergence), from emergence to tuber bulking initiation (vegetative) and from tuber bulking to harvest (bulking).

Measured field data allowed to fit above ground accumulated growth sigmoid functions for each plant organ and treatment stated as: active and senescent leaf plus leaf stipules growth functions, Flw(dap), stem growth functions, Fs(dap), and branches growth functions, Fb(dap).

Assimilate daily partitioning coefficients, for each plant organ, were defined by the ratio of the derivative of the plant organ dry matter function and the derivative of above and below ground accumulated growth functions, obtained by the sum of F'lw(dap), F's(dap), F'b(dap) and F't(dap) since they had a common domain.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Mean air temperature from planting till vine killer application was 18°C. Due to sufficient rainfall, complementary overhead irrigation was used only three times.

Haulm

Haulm life span and number of active haulms per plant were affected over time by N level but not by plant density treatments as shown by 104 days after planting and season data (Table 1). However, excluding final (104 days after planting) measurements, time and treatment interaction was eliminated and the average number of active haulms per plant did not differ (p < 0.05). They were 5.1, 5.1, 5.3 and 4.6 for 40SD, 140SD, 200SD and 150DD treatments, respectively. Thus, disregarding any possible end-of-season plant stress, the average number of haulms per plant for cultivar Snowden was five.

Considering all data for the season, there was difference among treatments regarding the number of active haulms per plant. 200SD treatment showed a larger haulm life span than the other one's because of increased plant tolerance to Verticillium wilt of potato. The average number of active haulms per plant is a variable that is most affected by cultivar characteristics (Susnochi, 1982; Morena et al., 1994); however, diseases and environmental stresses play an important role too.

The number of active haulms per plant is a variable linked to the differences in total tuber yield among cultivars (Morena et al., 1994) and in tuber size distribution (Struick et al., 1990). It may vary a lot depending on seed age, mass, and number of growing eyes or sprouts (Gill et al., 1989). Thus, considering that sprouted tubers are usually not separated by sprout number before planting, and that calculation of the number of haulms per plant is not straightforward, for known tubers properties and environmental conditions (Reestman & Wit, 1959; Struick et al., 1990), this cultivar variable or its equivalent number of haulms per unit area must be an additional input data for more comprehensive and quality oriented potato yield modeling. Values should be recorded at least after first side-dressing and around 60 days after planting when below ground basal branches may develop.

It is also important to provide models with the ability to predict how a given N level, plant density or other factor may stress plants and influence haulm senescence. Effects of Verticillium wilt of potato, which is an N stress related disease (Davis et al., 1994), should also be considered.

Below ground stem growth before emergence

The average emergency was observed at 27 days after planting and it was not affected by plant density. An average stem growth rate of 3.3 mm/day was obtained for this period, for a maximum sprout length of 90 mm.

Above ground stem growth

After 70 days after planting, above ground stem elongation (Fig. 2A) showed the tendency to keep constant for the highest and smallest N treatment but increased significantly (p < 0.01) before 70 days after planting, when using double density with 150 kg/ha of N. Thus maximum stem elongation was reached quickly for double density and slowly for single density treatments. Maximum stem lengths were 0.485, 0.550, 0.464, and 0.592 m for treatments 40SD, 140SD, 200SD, and 150DD, respectively.


Specific stem mass

Values (Fig. 2B) ranged from 30 to about 100 mg/cm for all treatments. The tendency of high values for treatment 200SD, after 70 days after planting, probably allowed each haulm to support more branches and leaves. On the other hand, 150DD and 40SD treatments had a different pattern in comparison with 140SD treatment, which showed small but uniform increasing rates along the season.

Stem growth and partitioning

Maximum stem length was reached faster for 150DD treatment as a natural plant response for light competition. However, the effect of closer spacing on increasing stem height at temperate sites may differ at tropical sites as pointed out by Zaag et al. (1990). On the other hand, final stem size for 200SD treatment was reduced in favor of stem thickness and load capacity without changing much partitioning coefficients for this plant part (Fig. 3A and 3B). This was most probably due to the increased production of apical branches and leaves observed for this high N level. Thus, besides being cultivar and site dependent, maximum stem length is more drastically affected by soil nutrient availability (N level) than by competition for light (plant density).


Stem partitioning coefficients were modified by environmental stresses caused by nutrients and light competition. Plant organ partitioning coefficients have been used to replace the lack of knowledge on how biomass, formed by the incoming photosynthetically active radiation, is distributed within the plant. Grant (1989), working with maize, suggested that such coefficients are fairly independent of environment, which did not seem to be the case for the potato crop. It should be pointed out that instead of using derivatives to calculate plant organ partitioning coefficients a better procedure is to consider the increment in plant organ dry mass over the increment in total plant dry mass, during a short interval in days.

Leaf area and specific leaf mass

All treatments had the same amount of N per area until the first side dress, 42 days after planting. Thus, at this time, results reflect plant spacing responses. Leaf area and length (Fig. 4A) had high values at an intermediate position over the stem. Double density treatment decreased leaf area growth in comparison with single density treatment. On the other hand, as a plant response to different photosynthetically active radiation regime due to haulm growth and competition interaction, specific leaf mass for individual leaf and position on the stem showed (Fig. 4B) the tendency to be higher for upper than lower leaves due to the increased ability of top leaves to intercept and absorb photosynthetically active radiation. This tendency was increased for upper leaves in the double density treatment certainly to the increased stem elongation observed. At this early time specific leaf mass averages for all leaves in the haulm were 5.1 and 5.2 mg/cm2 for single and double density treatments, respectively.


Seasonal leaf dry mass leaf area function

Leaf area was highly correlated (95%) with leaf dry biomass. The slope of the regression line adjusted (Fig. 5A) with all data for the season provided a value of 4.59 mg/cm2. Average and maximum area of individual leaves for all the treatments were 48 cm2 and 217.2 cm2. Regression analysis of leaf dry mass versus leaf area at 42 days after planting provided a slope of 4.55 mg/cm2, which was similar to the one observed when considering all data for the season.


Leaf area index and leaf area per haulm

Throughout the season, because of the double number of haulms per unit area (Fig. 5B), leaf area index increased for 150DD in comparison to other treatments. After 60 days after planting leaf area per haulm and leaf area index were higher for 200SD than the other treatments, as a plant response to high N amount in the soil.

Active and senescent leaves

Total number of above ground stem leaves ranged from 14 to 17 and it was affected by local differences between the soil surface (after hilling up) and seed tuber position. The number of active leaves (Fig. 6A) increased substantially with high N level applied at the first side-dressing and decreased with plant density. Leaf appearance rate increased drastically due to more branching (1st and 2nd order apical branches) caused by the increased N level.


The senescence process started right after hilling up from bottom to upper leaves. Senescence showed little effect of treatments at the beginning but increased considerably late in the season. Leaf duration, obtained on the time axis by the difference between actives and senescent leaves, showed increased leaf longevity for 150DD and decreased leaf longevity for 200SD treatments. All values were reduced at season end due to number of active haulms per plant decrease.

Leaf growth and partitioning

Specific leaf mass varied according to position in the plant and treatments. Top leaves and increased plant population showed the tendency to have high specific leaf mass values, which agrees with Tooming & Tammets (1984), when studying plant population equal to or higher than 6.0 plants/m2. Minimum values of specific leaf mass were observed at moderated depth in the haulm, which agrees with Gutschick & Wiegel (1988). Increased absorption of photosynthetically active radiation at high depth in the haulm (due to reduced leaf shading and leaf-angle distribution, with more erected leaves at the top and more horizontal leaves toward the bottom) increases light penetration (Duncan et al., 1967) and helps explain such variation in specific leaf mass for different leaf number and treatment.

When simulating leaf area expansion using leaf dry mass increments divided by the respective specific leaf mass value, it is important to keep in mind that specific leaf mass of an expanding leaf is higher at the top than at the bottom of the haulm. On the other hand, using the leaf dry mass leaf area function, this simulation may be more simplified since throughout the season there was no significant environmental effect, within the range under which data set was collected. It should also be allowed for reduced leaf duration caused by N and plant spacing. Duration of a plant organ does not have a fully accepted definition, and it makes comparisons with other results rather difficult.

Leaf (main source) partitioning coefficients decreased systematically as tuber (main sink) partitioning increased (Fig. 3). Thus, any eventual large reduction in the main sink part observed early in the season may reverse this trend (Fig. 3C). Soil stresses (nutrients or water) caused by reduced amount of nitrogen available to plant were likely to occur with 150DD and 40SD treatments reducing or practically stopping tuber growth.

Branches

Maximum average dry mass per haulm observed for 40SD, 140SD, 200SD and 150DD treatments were 0.125, 0.059, 0.893 and 0.111 grams per haulm, for basal branches, and 0.862, 1.211, 2.244, 0.396 grams per haulm, for apical branches.

Branch growth and partitioning

Apical branches had a much more expressive growth than basal branches. The rate at which apical branches developed was reduced by the decreased N supply and by the increased plant population. Sufficient amounts of N in the soil early in the season seem to induce growth of branches, which is later on reduced in favor of tuber production, as shown by partitioning coefficients (Fig. 3B). Redistribution of N in the canopy of N-replete plants (Millard & MacKerron, 1986) seems to allow growth of branches towards the end of the season (Fig. 3A) and it suggests that N-deficient plants may reduce this growth (Fig. 3C).

Above ground active dry matter per plant

Plant top active dry matter (Fig. 6B) was high for treatment 200SD after 60 days after planting and did not differ much for the other treatments in the same period.

Plant organ above ground dry matter functions

Treatment 40SD, not included, and 150DD showed similar data and functions. Accumulated growth functions obtained for each organ (Table 2) were used to estimate assimilate partitioning coefficients (Fig. 3).

Top growth and partitioning

Large N amounts in the soil at hilling up reduced maximum stem length and duration of lower leaves and highly stimulated dry matter growth of apical branches and leaves. This implyed that for each rate of N supply to leaves an optimum leaf N content exists to maximize crop biomass accumulation (Sinclair & Horrie, 1989). On the other hand, even with small N amounts available at this time there was a considerable canopy development, suggesting that there is little redistribution of N from the leaves (Millard & MacKerron, 1986) and that above and below ground growth seem to follow a unique priority system for biomass and N partition (Biemond & Vos, 1992). In other words, as N supply becomes limited, root system growth may have a temporary priority over top growth causing extractable water and nutrients to increase or tuber sink is somehow reduced increasing N redistribution within the canopy. Both hypotheses lead to an increase in N availability within the plant top. Increased N mineralization with time may play a significant role in this process too.

Tuber growth

From 63 days after planting till harvest (Fig. 7A) the number of active tubers per plant for the 120SD plot decreased from 17 to 11.


Considering an average of 20 tubers per plant, an average dry matter content of 15% and an average specific gravity of 1.04, an estimate of yo was 1.63 g/plant, at tuber initiation (50% of tubers with the diameter larger than 10 mm). Thus, for the logistic equation fitted, tuber bulking initiation had already started at 45 days after planting (Fig. 7B). On a per plant basis, double spacing (117.0 g/plant) produced about half of the 200SD treatment yield (233.2 g/plant). However, on an area basis, both yields were about the same. 40SD and 140SD treatments produced 141.5 and 188.7 g/plant, respectively. For this rainy year maximum yield obtained at the experimental station was about 50 ton/ha, with the help of an extra amount of N.

Canopy growth and development, as affected by the treatments, influenced main tuber yield components (Table 1). However, final number of tubers (final number of active stolons) per haulm and tuber dry matter percentage at harvest were not modified by the treatments.

Tuber specific gravity values ranging from 1.07 to 1.09 suggested that all treatments yielded tubers with good chipping quality.

Tuber development and partitioning

Bulking stage provided a large carbon and nutrient below ground sink. The actual size of this sink may be difficult to detect considering the fact that the number of active stolons and tubers per plant increase early and decrease late in the season according to environmental and genetic factors.

As previously mentioned, several tuber initials remained very small or were absorbed causing the number of active tubers to decline, as noted also by Cho & Iritani (1983). Even so, after tuber initiation, tuber growth had the preference on partitioning of dry matter in comparison with the stem and branches. It is important to notice that environmental factors may reduce tuber sink strength (Manrique & Bartholomew, 1991), altering partitioning of dry matter to this plant part and reducing tuber yield.

Total recommended amount of N applied at the first side-dressing practically doubled maximum leaf area index and delayed the onset of tuber formation about 10 days. Similar results were obtained for the Russet Burbank cultivar (Kleinkopf et al., 1981).

Dynamic models of crop production usually simulate biomass production on a dry mass basis. Since the tuber dry matter may vary from 14% to more than 25% (Midmore & Roca, 1992), according to many factors, it is necessary to multiply tuber yield dry mass by a factor of seven or four, suggesting that fresh matter yield simulation, large errors may occur if an inappropriate dry matter % (specific gravity or % starch) is provided. The tuber specific gravity was not changed by the treatments studied in contrast with other results (Westermann et al., 1988) suggesting that N and plant population did not play an important role in tuber dry matter percentage establishment in this study.

CONCLUSIONS

1. For cultivar Snowden the average number of haulms per plant is five.

2. Above ground stem elongation increases significantly before 70 days after planting, when using plant double density with 150 kg/ha of nitrogen and it is more affected by soil nitrogen availability than by competition for light.

3. Double density treatment decreases leaf area growth in comparison with single density treatment, at 42 days in the season.

4. Leaf area index increases for double density treatment, throughout the season, due to double number of haulms per unit area, and as a response for high nitrogen side-dressing; however, at the first side-dressing, the number of active leaves increases with high nitrogen level applied and decreases with plant density.

5. Leaf (main source) partitioning coefficients decreases systematically as tuber (main sink) partitioning increases; however, nutrient soil stress may reverse this trend.

6. The rate at which apical branches develop is reduced by decreasing nitrogen supply and increasing plant population.

7. Canopy growth and development influence main tuber yield components; however, final number of tubers (active stolons) per haulm and tuber dry matter percentage at harvest are not modified by the treatments.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa) and Michigan State University for financial support; to Dr. Joe Ritchie for technical support; to Mr. Laurent Gilet for helping collect field data; to Dr. Richardson Chase for the assistance in conducting field work, and to Dr. June Wey for sharing his experience in crop modeling.

  • ALLEN, E.J.; WURR, D.C.E. A comparison of two methods of recording stem densities in the potato crop. Potato Research, Wageningen, v.16, p.10-20, 1973.
  • BERGER, R.D. Comparison of the Gomperts and logistic equations to describe plant disease progress. Phytopathology, Saint Paul, v.71, n.7, p.716-719, 1981.
  • BIEMOND, H.; VOS, J. Effects of nitrogen on the development and growth of the potato plant. 2. The partitioning of dry matter, nitrogen and nitrate. Annals of Botany, London, v.70, p.37-45, 1992.
  • CHO, J.L.; IRITANI, W.M. Comparison of growth and yield parameters of russet burbank for a two year period. American Potato Journal, Orono, v. 60, p.569-575, 1983.
  • DAVIS, J.R.; STARCK, J.C.; SORENSEN, L.H.; SCHNEIDER, A.T. Interactive effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on Verticillium wilt of russet burbank potato. American Potato Journal, Orono, v.71, p.467-481, 1994.
  • DUNCAN, W.G.; LOOMIS, R.S.; WILLIAMS, W.A.; HANAU, R. A model for simulating photosynthesis in plant communities. Hilgardia, Berkeley, v.38, p.181-205, 1967.
  • FIRMAN, D.M.; ALLEN, E.J. Field measurements of the photosynthetic rate of potatoes grown with different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge, Great Britain, v.111, p.85-90, 1988.
  • GILL, P.A.; ROSS, H.A.; WAISTER, P.D. The control of stem numbers in potato competition experiments using either whole tuber or seed-pieces. Potato Research, Wageningen, v.32, p.159-165, 1989.
  • GRANT, R.F. Simulation of carbon assimilation and partitioning in maize. Agronomy Journal, Madison, v.81, p.563-571, 1989.
  • GUTSCHICK, V.P.; WIEGEL, F.W. Optimizing the canopy photosynthetic rate by patterns of investment in specific leaf mass. The American Naturalist, Chicago, v.132, p.67-86, 1988.
  • KLEINKOPF, G.E.; WESTERMANN, D.T.; DWELLE, R.B. Dry matter production and nitrogen utilization by six potato cultivars. Agronomy Journal, Madison, v.73, p.799-802, 1981.
  • MANRIQUE, L.A.; BARTHOLOMEW, D.P. Growth and yield performance of potato grown at three elevations in Hawaii: II. Dry matter production and efficiency of partitioning. Crop Science, Madison, v.31, p.367-372, 1991.
  • MANRIQUE, L.A.; KINIRY, J.R.; HODGES, T.; AXNESS, D.S. Dry matter production and radiation interception of potato. Crop Science, Madison, v.31, p.1044-1049, 1991.
  • MICHIGAN POTATO INDUSTRY COMMISSION (Lansing, United States). Michigan potato acreage projection. Potato News Line, Lansing, v.6, n.10, p.1-3, 1994.
  • MIDMORE, D.J.; ROCA, J. Influence of production and storage conditions on subsequent growth and tuber yield of potato (Solanum spp.) in the hot tropics. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge, Great Britain, v.119, p.45-58, 1992.
  • MILLARD, P.; MACKERRON, D.K.L. The effects of nitrogen application on growth and nitrogen distribution within the potato canopy. Annals of Applied Biology, Wellesbourne, v.109, p.427-437, 1986.
  • MORENA, I. de la; GUILLEN, A.; MORAL, L.F.G. del. Yield development in potatoes as influenced by cultivar and the timing and level of nitrogen fertilization. American Potato Journal, Orono, v.71, p.165-173, 1994.
  • OJALA, J.C.; STARK, J.C.; KLEINKOPF, G.E. Influence of irrigation and nitrogen management on potato yield and quality. American Potato Journal, Orono, v.67, p.29-43, 1990.
  • REESTMAN, A.J.; WIT, C.T. de. Yield and size distribution of potatoes as influenced by seed rate. Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science, Wageningen, v.7, p.257-268, 1959.
  • RITZ, K.; GRIFFITHS, B.S.; WHEATLEY, R.E. Soil microbial biomass and activity under a potato crop fertilized with N with and without C. Biology and Fertility of Soil, Berlin, v.12, p.265-271, 1992.
  • SANDS, P.J.; HACKETT, C.; NIX, H.A. A model of the development and bulking of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.). I. Derivation from well-managed field crops. Field Crops Research, Amsterdam, v.2, p.309-331, 1983.
  • SINCLAIR, T.R.; HORRIE, T. Leaf nitrogen, photosynthesis and crop radiation use efficiency: a review. Crop Science, Madison, v.29, p.90-98, 1989.
  • STRUICK, P.C.; HAVERKORT, A.J.; VREUGDENHIL, D.; BUS, C.B.; DANKERT, R. Manipulation of tuber-size distribution of a potato crop. Potato Research, Wageningen, v.33, p.417-432, 1990.
  • SUSNOCHI, M. Growth and yield studies of potatoes developed in a semi-arid region. I. Yield response of several varieties grown as a double crop. Potato Research, Wageningen, v.25, p.59-69, 1982.
  • TOOMING, K.G.; TAMMETS, T. K. Relationship of specific leaf weight to the irradiation density of adaptation and par regime in some plant species. Soviet Plant Physiology, Moscow, v.31, n.2, p.201-207, 1984.
  • VOS, J.; BIEMOND, H. Effects of nitrogen on the development and growth of the potato plant. 1. Leaf appearance, expansion growth, life spans of leaves and stem branching. Annals of Botany, London, v.70, p.27-35,1992.
  • WESTERMANN, D.T.; DAVIS, J.R. Potato nutritional management changes and challenges into the next century. American Potato Journal, Orono, v.69, p.753-767, 1992.
  • WESTERMANN, D.T.; KLEINKOPF, G.E.; PORTER, L.D. Nitrogen fertilizer efficiencies on potatoes. American Potato Journal, Orono, v.65, p.377-386, 1988.
  • ZAAG, P. vander; DEMAGANTE, A.L.; EWING, E.E. Influence of plant spacing on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) morphology, growth and yield under two contrasting environments. Potato Research, Wageningen, v.33, p.313-323, 1990.
  • 1
    Accepted for publication on May 28, 1999.
    2 Agronomist, Ph.D., Embrapa-Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Hortaliças (CNPH), Caixa Postal 0218, CEP 70359-970 Brasília, DF, Brazil. E-mail:
  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      13 Sept 2001
    • Date of issue
      May 2000

    History

    • Accepted
      28 May 1999
    Embrapa Secretaria de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento; Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira Caixa Postal 040315, 70770-901 Brasília DF Brazil, Tel. +55 61 3448-1813, Fax +55 61 3340-5483 - Brasília - DF - Brazil
    E-mail: pab@embrapa.br