Yield and Nitrogen Use of Irrigated Processing Potato in Response to Placement,Timing and Source of Nitrogen Fertilizer in Manitoba

Optimizing nitrogen (N) fertilizer management in irrigated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) on coarse-textured soils is challenging. The “4R” nutrient stewardship framework of using N fertilizer at the right rate, right source, right placement and right time provides approaches to improve fertilizer use efficiency while maintaining or improving yield. This 3-years replicated field plot study evaluated effects from a series of N fertilization strategies including 10 combinations of sources, placement and timing, as well as fertigation, on irrigated processing potato (cv. Russet Burbank) grown for a total of five site-years in the Province of Manitoba, Canada. Treatments were designed to provide early to late availability of N to the potato crop. Nitrogen was applied to 80% of Provincial N recommendation to increase the likelihood of observing improved fertilizer use efficiency and effects of treatments on yields. Measurements were tuber yield, size distribution, specific gravity, hollow-heart rate, fertilizer apparent N recovery (ANR) and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Results showed differences in yield, quality, ANR and NUE between fertilizer treatments were generally very small or absent. Average tuber marketable yields for fertilizer treatments were significantly greater than those for the unfertilized control (P?<?0.001). Split application of urea at planting and hilling, and urea at planting with fertigation occasionally increased tuber marketable yields on sites of coarse textured soils (P?<?0.05). Use of polymer-coated urea (ESN) or stabilized urea with inhibitors (SuperU) did not affect yield, quality or N use of potato. Site-year difference (P?<?0.001) were apparent for all measures highlighting the importance of soil and climatic conditions on agronomic and environmental effects of N management practices. The results indicate current grower practice of split urea application at planting and hilling and urea at planting following by in-season fertigation are sound. Results indicate growers could shift to the more convenient practice of ESN at planting without reducing yields. Absence of treatment effects suggests N was generally not a limiting factor for the current study, indicating that the current recommendation for potato production in Manitoba over-estimate site-specific crop N needs.     

Influence of applied nitrogen on potato part I: Yield,quality, and Nitrogen uptake

Fertilizer nitrogen (N) may be managed to increase crop production and profitability while reducing nitrate contamination of groundwater. A two-year field investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of applied N on tuber yield and quality, dry matter production and N uptake of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. var. Russet Burbank) grown on irrigated sandy soils in Michigan. Nitrogen was applied as ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] at rates of 0, 56 and 112, kg N ha^?1 in a single application at planting or 112 and 168 kg N ha^?1 in split applications during the growing season. Total tuber yield generally increased with N applications up to 112 kg N ha^?1. Only one of the three experimental sites showed an increase in marketable tuber yield when 112 kg N ha^?1 was split evenly between planting and tuber initiation. Tuber specific gravity was not affected by N rate. Nitrogen rates of 112–168 kg N ha^?1 maximized dry matter production and plant tissue N concentration at onset of maturity and harvest. Tuber N concentration at harvest ranged from 13–17 g kg^?1 at two of the three locations. Values for the third experiment were 10–13 g N kg^?1. Whole crop N uptake at onset of senescence ranged from 45 to 225 kg N ha^?1 across all locations and treatments. An average of 67 percent of this N was found in tubers at harvest. Nitrogen fertilization exceeded N removal in harvested tubers by more than 50 kg N ha^?1 only for the 168 kg N ha^?1 treatment. These results indicate that acceptable tuber yield can be obtained with lower N rates than those currently used by most producers, with the potential for reducing net loss of N from the soil.     

Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Time on Dry Matter Accumulation and Yield of Chinese Potato Variety KX 13

Application time of nitrogen (N) fertilizer can significantly influence the yield and quality of potato tubers. The objective of this experiment was to assess the effects of N application time on dry matter accumulation in foliage and tubers, as well as on marketable tuber ratio, dry matter concentration, and specific gravity of the Chinese cultivar KX 13. The four treatments were as follows: all the 150 kg?N?ha^?1 applied at planting (T1); 100 kg N ha^?1 applied at planting and 50 kg N ha^?1 applied 1 week before tuber initiation (20 days after emergence, DAE) (T2); 100 kg N ha^?1 applied at planting and 50 kg N ha^?1 applied 1 week before tuber bulking stage (35 DAE) (T3); and 100 kg?N?ha^?1 applied at emergence and 50 kg N ha^?1 applied 1 week before tuber bulking stage (35 DAE) (T4). For all treatments, 90 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1 ((NH₄)₂HPO₄) and 150 kg K₂O ha^?1 (K₂SO₄) were applied at planting. Thirty tons per hectare of marketable tuber yield was achieved with T3, while 23 t ha^?1 marketable yield was achieved by applying all 150 kg N ha^?1 at planting (T1). Relative to treatment T1, T3 also significantly increased harvest index (HI) from 0.76 to 0.86 and marketable tuber ratio from 64.8% to 79.2%. Applying N at planting in conjunction with dressing at 20 DAE (T2) gave a high marketable tuber ratio (74%) and HI (0.86), but the lower total tuber yield led to a lower marketable tuber yield. Without N application at planting (T4), N dressing did not increase the yield and HI. Treatments with N dressing had no significant effect on specific gravity or dry matter concentration of tubers.     

Improving Yield and Quality of Processing Potato Crops Grown in the Argentinian Pampas: the Role of N,P and S and Their Impact on CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Emissions

The area grown with processing potato crops in the Argentinian Pampas has been increasing steadily since 1995. The aim of this work was to assess the effects of N, P and S upon yield and tuber quality and their impact on CO₂ emissions assessed with the Cool Farm Tool-Potato. During the spring-summer growing seasons 2008/2009 and 2009/2010, ten fertilization experiments to individually assess N, P and S effects were carried out in the southeast region of the Argentinian Pampas. Nitrogen (four N rates), phosphorus (four P rates) and sulfur (three S rates) were applied at planting and tuber initiation; at combined rates of 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha^?1, and at rates of 0, 25, 50 and 100 kg P ha^?1 and 0, 10 and 20 kg S ha^?1. N and P had a positive effect on total tuber yield, but tuber dry matter concentration (DMC) decreased at higher N rates. The fraction of marketable tubers suitable for processing into French fries increased with the addition of N, showed no variations with P fertilization, and decreased when S was applied. French fry colour, length/width (L:W) ratio and tuber defects were not affected by N, P and S fertilization. With regard to CO₂ emissions assessed with the Cool Farm Tool-Potato, results showed that the higher the N rates the higher the CO₂ emissions, but they decreased at higher yields. P and S rates did not have an impact on the CO₂ emissions, which also decreased at higher yields. Under the production system of the Pampas, N should be split between planting and tuber initiation, and intermediate P rates should be applied all at planting, in order to improve crop yield and quality and to reduce CO₂ emissions.     

Yield,market quality and petiole nitrate concentration of non-irrigated Russet Burbank and Shepody potatoes in response to sidedressed nitrogen

Russet Burbank and Shepody potatoes were grown with the following four nitrogen treatments: 1) 90 kg ha^?1 at planting; 2) 180 kg ha^?1 at planting; 3) 90 kg ha^?1 at planting followed by an additional 90 kg ha^?1 side-dressed after tuber initiation; or 4) 90 kg ha^?1 at planting followed by an additional 45 kg ha^?1 sidedressing. When compared to the 90 kg ha^?1 at-planting treatment, petiole NO₃-N concentrations increased rapidly after sidedressing and were relatively constant through mid-season. Sidedressed N significantly increased total yields relative to the 90 kg N ha^?1 at-planting treatment by an average of 5.0 t ha^?1 in three of nine experiments. Three of the experiments, where yields did not significantly increase, were on sites which were not expected to respond to supplemental N based on petiole NO₃-N testing. A red clover green manure crop was the previous crop for two of these experimental sites. Petiole NO₃-N testing criteria were only partially effective in detecting sites where response to sidedressed N occurred. When compared to a single application of 180 kg N ha^?1 at planting, split application of 90 kg N ha^?1 at planting followed by a 90 kg N ha^?1 sidedressing significantly reduced total yields in one of nine experiments and did not affect yields in the remaining eight experiments. Tuber uniformity was improved in three of nine experiments by the split-N treatment. Specific gravity was not significantly affected. Use of 45 kg N ha^?1 at side-dressing resulted in similar yield as the 90 kg N ha^?1 sidedressing, although yield of large-sized tubers was often decreased with the lower N rate. Use of reduced at-planting N rates followed by sidedressed N does not appear to increase yields of non-irrigated Russet Burbank and Shepody potatoes when compared to the at-planting N rates that are currently recommended. This management approach can maintain yields at levels comparable to at-planting N programs and does provide an opportunity to reduce N application rates on sites where soil N reserves and soil amendments may make a substantial N contribution to the potato crop. Side-dressed N application can frequently improve yields and tuber size when potatoes have been underfertilized at planting; however, some inconsistency in response can be expected in regions that rely on unpredictable natural rainfall.     

Potato Crop Response to Genotype and Environment in a Subtropical Highland Agro-ecology

Potato response to environment, planting date and genotype was studied for different agro-ecological zones in Lesotho. Field experiments were conducted at four different sites with altitudes ranging from 1,655 to 2,250 m above sea level during the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 summer growing seasons. Treatments consisted of three cultivars that varied in maturity type, two planting dates and four sites differing in altitude and weather patterns. Various plant parts were measured periodically. To understand and quantify the influence of abiotic factors that determine and limit yields, the LINTUL crop growth model was employed which simulated potential yields for the different agro-ecological zones using weather data collected per site during the study period. Observed actual crop yields were compared with model simulations to determine the yield gap. Model simulations helped to improve our understanding of yield limitations to further expand potato production in subtropical highlands, with emphasis on increasing production through increased yields rather than increased area. Substantial variation in yield between planting date, cultivar and site were observed. Average tuber dry matter (DM) yields for the highest yielding season were above 7.5 t DM ha^?1 or over 37.5 t ha^?1 fresh tuber yield. The lowest yield obtained was 2.39 t DM ha^?1 or 12 t ha^?1 fresh tuber yield for cultivar Vanderplank in the 2011/2012 growing season at the site with the lowest altitude. Modelled potential tuber yields were 9–14 t DM ha^?1 or 45–70 t ha^?1 fresh yield. Drought stress frequently resulted in lower radiation use efficiencies and to a lesser degree harvest indices, which reduced tuber yield. The site with the lowest altitude and highest temperatures had the lowest yields, while the site with the highest altitude had the highest yields. Later maturing cultivars yielded more than earlier maturing ones at all sites. It is concluded that the risk of low yields in rain-fed subtropical highlands can be minimised by planting late cultivars at the highest areas possible as early as the risks of late frosts permit.     

栽培密度对优质鲜食型甘薯农艺性状及产量的影响

为了探讨不同密度处理对优质鲜食型甘薯农艺性状和产量的影响,选用优质鲜食型甘薯品种广薯87和福薯8号开展研究。结果表明:不同密度水平对2个甘薯品种的蔓长、蔓重、单株结薯数、单株薯重及商品薯率等主要农艺性状均有重要影响,2个品种表现不一;在不同密度水平下福薯8号产量水平部分间达极显著性差异,其中以5.4万株/hm~2的栽培密度时,其产量最高达45 562.50 kg/hm~2,不同栽培密度水平下广薯87无显著性差异。2个甘薯品种需选择适宜的栽培密度进行种植才能达到高产、高效。     

Efficacy of Seed Aging and Gibberellin Treatments for Manipulating Apical Dominance,Tuber Set and Size Distribution of cv. Shepody

The cultivar Shepody has excellent early processing qualities and produces above average tuber yields but sets relatively few tubers that often become excessively large relative to market demand. Optimizing tuber set and size of Shepody for seed and frozen processing markets currently entails adjusting in-row spacing and vine kill date. However, arresting tuber growth by vine killing for size control sacrifices yield potential. Aging seed by storing at 12, 22, and 32°C for 80-, 450-, and 900-degree days, or gibberellin (GA) treatments, were evaluated as more direct approaches for modulating stem number (apical dominance), tuber set, and size distribution relationships. Shepody proved to be inherently resistant to high temperature-induced age-priming treatments. In contrast to other cultivars studied previously, age-priming Shepody seed during storage had no effect on plant emergence and the resulting increases in stem number, tuber set, and associated decreases in average tuber weight were marginal. By contrast, GA applied as seed dip or spray effectively hastened plant emergence, reduced apical dominance, increased tuber set, and decreased average tuber size. The magnitude of these GA-induced effects depended on concentration and application technique (seed dip versus spray). For frozen processing, GA applied as a seed dip at 1 mg L^-1 added an additional tuber per plant and decreased average tuber size by 15% without affecting U.S. No. 1 tuber yields and gross returns; however, 2 and 3 mg L^-1 GA decreased U.S. No. 1 tuber yields and crop value by an average of 16 and 14%, respectively. Spray applications of 2–6 mg L^-1 GA also reduced U.S. No. 1 tuber yield and frozen processing value. Conversely, the increase in tuber set (1.5 tubers plant^-1) and associated 25% reduction in average tuber weight induced by 2 mg L^-1 GA applied as either dip or spray increased gross crop values on a seed contract by 25 and 38%, respectively. The differential efficacies of dip versus spray applications of GA on tuber set and size distribution were likely attributable to differences in GA deposition on the seed. Applying low concentrations of GA to cut seed of Shepody as either a dip (1–2 mg L^-1) or spray (2 mg L^-1) effectively modulated tuber set and size to significantly increase gross returns for seed, and to better satisfy the needs of processors for more moderate size tubers.     

长期定位施氮条件下种植密度对冬小麦石4366品质和氮肥利用的影响

为探究长期施氮条件下种植密度对冬小麦品质特性和氮肥利用的调控作用,在长期定位试验的基础上,2020-2021年度采用裂区试验设计,主区为施氮量,设75 kg·hm^-2（N75）、150 kg·hm^-2（N150）、225 kg·hm^-2（N225）和300 kg·hm^-2（N300） 4个水平;副区为种植密度,设225×10⁴ 株·hm^-2（D225）、300×10⁴株·hm^-2（D300）、375×10⁴株·hm^-2（D375）、450×10⁴株·hm^-2（D450）和525×10⁴株·hm^-2（D525）5个水平;分析了不同施氮条件下种植密度对石4366产量、粉质特性、RVA特性、拉伸特性及氮肥利用率的影响。结果表明,不同施氮量和密度组合下籽粒产量和品质相关指标有较大差异,施氮量对氮肥农学效率和氮肥偏生产力有显著影响。小麦产量随着施氮量的升高而增加,施氮量225 kg·hm^-2、密度范围375×10⁴~525×10⁴株·hm^-2和施氮量300 kg·hm^-2、密度范围225×10⁴~450×10⁴株·hm^-2组合下均能获得较高产量。蛋白质含量、容重和湿面筋含量随着施氮量增加呈升高趋势;稳定时间和粉质质量指数随着施氮量增加呈先升高后降低的趋势,N225下粉质参数最高。小麦籽粒品质和面粉粉质指标均随种植密度的增加而增加。施氮量225 kg·hm^-2、密度525×10⁴株·hm^-2组合是小麦粉质指标最优组合。淀粉RVA参数在施氮量225 kg·hm^-2、密度225×10⁴株·hm^-2处理下最好。拉伸特性在施氮量225 kg·hm^-2、密度450×10⁴~525×10⁴株·hm^-2组合和施氮量300 kg·hm^-2、密度225×10⁴株·hm^-2组合下较好。氮肥农学效率和氮肥偏生产力在施氮量225 kg·hm^-2、密度375×10⁴~525×10⁴株·hm^-2组合下较高。综合籽粒产量、品质相关指标和氮肥利用效率的结果,本试验条件下,施氮量225 kg·hm^-2、种植密度450×10⁴~525×10⁴株·hm^-2可作为石4366高产、优质的较佳肥密组合。     

Effect of seedpiece spacing and nitrogen fertilization on tuber yield, yield components, and nitrogen use efficiency parameters of two potato cultivars

The effect of seedpiece spacing on the efficiency of nitrogen (N) use by the potato crop is generally unknown. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of seedpiece spacing on tuber yield, yield components and N use efficiency parameters of two potato cultivars. Potato cultivars Atlantic and Shepody were grown at two rates of N fertilization (0 or 100 kg N ha^?1) and three seedpiece spacings (20, 30, or 40 cm) in 2000 to 2002. Wider seedpiece spacing increased mean tuber weight and the number of tubers per stem, but decreased total tuber yield. The higher tuber yield at the narrow seedpiece spacing was attributed to higher biomass production in combination with lower tuber specific gravity. Seedpiece spacing had no consistent effect on plant N accumulation, and therefore no consistent effect on N uptake efficiency (plant N accumulation /N supply from the soil plus fertilizer). However, a small increase in soil NO₃-N concentration in the hill at topkill at wider seedpiece spacing suggested plant N accumulation was slightly reduced at wider seedpiece spacing, but at a level that could not be detected from a plant-based measure of N accumulation. The reduced dry matter accumulation, but similar plant N accumulation, resulted in lower N use efficiency (plant dry matter accumulation / N supply) at wider seedpiece spacing. Wider seedpiece spacing also resulted in generally lower values of N utilization efficiency (plant dry matter accumulation / plant N accumulation) for the 40-cm compared with the 20- and 30-cm seedpiece spacings. Effects of seedpiece spacing on N use efficiency parameters were generally consistent across cultivars and fertilizer N rates. Wider seedpiece spacing did reduce the efficiency of N use by the potato crop; however, the magnitude of the effect was small under the conditions of this study.     

不同密度和种薯大小对产量及主要农艺性状的影响

为了明确在黑龙江省哈尔滨地区生态条件下，不同种植密度和不同种薯大小对马铃薯产量及主要农艺性状的影响，以密度为主处理，种薯大小为副处理进行了二因素裂区试验。供试材料为品种东农303。不同密度间，块茎数和总产有显著差异，两性状随密度的增加而增加。不同种善大小间，除净产量只达0．05显著水平外，其它性状均达0．01显著水平。株高、主茎数／每穴、块茎数随种薯大小的增大星线性增长，而总产、商品薯块茎数、商品薯产量、净产量随种薯大小的变化规律则只能用二次多项式来描述。采用新复极差法对各性状在不同密度及不同种薯大小下的表现作了多重比较。要想获得较高的商品薯产量及净产量，并考虑节约用种，提高繁殖倍数，在黑龙江省哈尔滨地区生态条件下，东农303的株行距应为30cm×70cm，种薯大小应为50～80g。     

Effect of Nitrogen Rate on Growth,Yield, Economics and Crisps Quality of Indian Potato Processing Cultivars

A field study was conducted during 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 at the Central Potato Research Institute Campus, Modipuram, India, in order to increasing the processing-grade tuber yield of India’s first ever developed processing potato cultivars, Kufri Chipsona-1 and Kufri Chipsona-2. Tuber yield and post-harvest quality characteristics were evaluated in response to five N levels (0, 90, 180, 270 and 360 kg N ha^-1). The crop growth traits (stem number, plant height and compound leaf number) responded positively to N application, whereas the effect of N fertilization on processing-grade tuber number, total tuber number per ha and tuber number per plant was quadratic. There was a steady increase in tuber weight per plant, processing-grade tuber yield, total tuber yield and biomass yield in response to N application. Kufri Chipsona-1 produced a 23.6% higher tuber yield per plant than Kufri Chipsona-2. Agronomic N use efficiency decreased linearly with increased N doses. Specific gravity and tuber dry matter percentage responded positively to N application, while crisps colour (at harvest and after storage) and reducing sugars remained unaffected. Cultivar was the major factor that influenced the tuber quality parameters (specific gravity, crisps colour). Higher values of these quality traits were observed in Kufri Chipsona-2 as compared to Kufri Chipsona-1. Net income and benefit cost ratio (B:C) indicated that Chipsona cultivars should be fertilized with 270 kg N ha^-1 for realizing higher processing-grade yields and desirable quality tubers.     

Growth-room and field studies with seed tubers treated with ethylene and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) during storage

Based on ethylene management in potato storage, we hypothesized that the applied treatments would modify number of sprouts per seed tuber. Thus, in combination with in-row spacing (closer for seed, wider for processing) in the field treatments will give either (1) a high number of small tubers destined for seed use, or (2) a relatively smaller number of large, uniform tubers suitable for processing. A three-year study (2001–2003), conducted with two french fry processing cultivars, Russet Burbank (RB) and Shepody (SH), aimed at the development of a novel modified atmosphere seed tuber storage treatment. Seed tubers were stored at 4 C from October to May of each year in a cold room under five modified atmospheric regimes: (1) air ventilation only (Control); (2) 4 µl L^?1 ethylene applied continuously beginning in November and (3) beginning in February; (4) 1 µ1 L^?1 MCP (1-methylcyclopropene) applied as a gas for 48 h only in early December followed by continuous 4 µl L^?1 ethylene and (5) MCP alone applied as above. Each year, once a month (mid-January until end of April), a number of seed tubers was taken from each storage treatment, planted to pots and grown for 4 wk in a growth-room. In these studies, shoot emergence from the ethylene-treated seeds of both cultivars occurred significantly earlier, giving higher number of stems per tuber and stolons per stem than Control and MCP treatments. Moreover, the time to emergence after planting decreased with the increased length of storage. Field studies that were conducted from the end of May (planting) until October each year, produced similar trends (although not significant atP≤0.05) and resulted in a higher number of tubers per stem. In RB at the closer in row spacing (30 cm) used for seed production, ethylene enhanced yield of smaller tubers in the 30- to 115-g and 115- to 300-g categories. The ethylene storage treatments also increased tuber number per plant, but not the total mass of harvested potatoes. The MCP treatment, in combination with the wider in-row spacing (40 cm) used for the production of processing tubers, significantly increased the percentage of large tubers (>300 g). In SH, contrary to RB, the ethylene treatments did not alter tuber size distribution and the application of MCP reduced tuber size rather than increasing it. Results from this study suggest that both ethylene and MCP can be used in seed potato storage to influence the tuber size distribution of the crop from that seed.     

A heat-sum model to determine yield and onset of internal heat necrosis for atlantic potato

The influence of temperature on tuber yield and development of internal heat necrosis (IHN) in Atlantic (Solanum tuberosum L.) was examined in field trials in two locations over three years (seven plantings). Under simulated commercial production, yield and development of IHN varied significantly between Virginia (VA) and New Jersey (NJ) in 1986, 1987, and 1988. Marketable yield ranged from 49.8 mt.ha^?1 for the early planting in 1986 in New Jersey (NJ86E) to 17.9 for VA87. Tubers developing IHN to a level which potato chip processors would rate unacceptable (off-grade) varied with year and location. Significant correlations were found between the number of days to off-grade and the mean maximum temperature for 0–30 (r = ?.83), 30–60 (r = ?.86) and 60–90 DAP (r = ?.81) as well as the mean minimum temperature for the same periods (r = ?.91,, ?.80 and ?.91, respectively). The relationship between yield or IHN and temperature was examined using heat-sum models with a penalty for maximum daily temperature > 25C but with or without a penalty for minimum temperature > 21C. The multiple coefficients of determination for yield were similar using either variables generated from the heat-sum model with maximum and minimum temperature penalties or from the model with maximum temperature penalty only (R² = 0.83 and R² = 0.82). The prediction of the time from first symptom of necrosis to off-grade (interval) was improved by including variables generated by the heat-sum model that included both the minimum and maximum temperature penalty (R² = 0.50 vs. R² = 0.27), respectively. High minimum temperatures as reflected in the days to maximum heat-sum were found to significantly affect tuber yield and the expression and development of IHN.     

The effectiveness of using a minituber crop for selection of agronomic characters in potato breeding programmes

Summary Performance of 20 potato genotypes was studied for seven agronomic characters in crops raised from minitubers and normal seed tubers. Correlation coefficients were computed between minituber crop and normal seed crop in order to study the selection efficiency at minituber crop level. The performance of normal seed crop was significantly better than the minituber crop for various characters including tuber yield and its components. Correlation coefficients between minituber and normal seed crop were significant for various characters except number of stems and number of tubers. Highest correlation coefficient (r=0.86) was for tuber yield followed by average tuber weight (r=0.67) and number of nodes (r=0.63). The results suggest that selection for tuber yield can be practised at the minituber crop level in potato breeding programmes     

Key Indicators for Assessing Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Cereal-Based Agroecosystems

SUMMARY

Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is an important objective of agroecosystem management. We define and demonstrate key indicators of NUE that enable a broader assessment of N management strategies. Nitrogen efficiency components and indexes were defined to assess soil and crop physiological processes, and agronomic and environmental factors related to N use. Measurements of grain yield, grain N, aboveground plant N, applied N, post-harvest root-zone soil N, and N losses via subsurface drains were used to assess N retention efficiency, available N uptake efficiency, N utilization efficiency, N harvest index, N yield efficiency, N reliance index, grain N accumulation efficiency, N balance index, N fertilizer utilization efficiency, and N loss index. Nitrogen use indicators were evaluated for two field studies: (1) hard red spring wheat with four N levels and two tillage treatments: no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT); and (2) corn in crop sequences of continuous corn (C-C), corn-soybean (C-S), two years of corn following alfalfa (ALF-C-C), and two years of corn following perennial grass (CRP-C-C). Tillage, crop rotation, and applied N had large and variable effects on different indicators of N use. N efficiency components and indexes were useful for monitoring cropping system N use, assessing N management strategies, and identifying key areas for improvements in NUE.     

Historical Changes in Urban Rice Production Systems in Tokyo,Japan

Abstract

Historical changes in planting area, yield improvements, and production of both paddy and upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Tokyo and the whole of Japan from 1877 to 2003 were reviewed. The area of rice in Tokyo was at its peak (17,000 ha) at the beginning of the 20th century but dramatically reduced thereafter except for the period of 1950s, to200 and 30 ha for paddy and upland rice, respectively, in 2003, due to urbanization. After the 1950s, the land-use efficiency rate in Tokyo was reduced from 180 to 100% and rice self-sufficiency rate from 4 to 0.1%. There was historical yield improvement of paddy rice in Tokyo particularly after 1960s in the Southern and Northern Tama regions, but the current yield level in Tokyo (ca. 400 g m-²) is lower than that in the whole of Japan (more than 500 g m-²) eventhough crop damage due to low temperatures is not serious.The reasons were discussed from the viewpoints of (1) less agricultural inputs and agronomic management, (2) declining rice research after the 1970s, (3) higher elevating air temperature(e.g. 1.4°C for the last 40 years), in Tokyo, and (4) yield component differences. Upland rice in Tokyo has a planting area comparable with paddy rice (ca. 7,000 to 8,000 ha) during the 1950s, but yield improvement during the last 50 yearsis not noticeable (ca. 150 g m-²) with no development of cultivars, and with greater fluctuation of crop situation index due to drought compared with paddy rice. This review paper discusses the importance of urban rice production system, along with a proposal of the alternatives.     

施氮量对冬小麦氮素利用和产量的影响

为给限量灌溉条件下冬小麦高产栽培中合理施氮提供依据,2008-2009年度分别在藁城市和清苑县以冀5265和科农199为材料,研究了限量灌溉条件下（小麦全生育期灌3水,每次灌水量75 mm）施氮量（0、120、180、240和300 kg·hm^-2,分别用N0、N120、N180、N240和N300表示）对冬小麦氮素吸收利用及小麦产量的影响。结果表明,增施氮肥有利于增加小麦植株和籽粒的含氮量和氮素积累总量。随施氮量的增加,藁城点籽粒氮素积累量呈持续增加趋势,清苑点在N240处理下籽粒中氮素积累量达到最高后开始下降。两地试验中氮素干物质生产效率均随施氮量的增加而降低,藁城的氮素生产效率、回收效率及农艺效率呈先升高后降低的趋势,以N180的氮素生产效率最高,回收效率和农艺效率则以N240最高;穗数和穗粒数随施氮量的增加而增大,千粒重随施氮量的增加而降低,且各处理间差异显著;籽粒产量随施氮量增加呈递增趋势,但N240与N300之间差异不显著。清苑县的试验中,氮素干物质生产效率、籽粒生产效率、回收效率和农艺效率都随施氮量的增加而降低,且在部分处理之间差异显著;穗数、穗粒数和籽粒产量均以N240的最高,千粒重则以N0的最高,再增加施氮量反而使产量及其构成因素有所降低。根据本研究结果,在河北平原限量灌溉条件下,小麦生产中施氮240 kg·hm^-2可以获得较理想的籽粒产量和氮素利用效率。     

Maleic hydrazide effects on tuber yield, sprouting characteristics, and french fry processing quality in various potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars grown under argentinian conditions

Field trials were carried out during 1995–1998 in commercial crops of five potato cultivars grown at several locations in Argentina to test maleic hydrazide (MH potassium salt, 36% ) effects on tuber yield, sprouting characteristics, and processing quality. MH was applied at growth stage IV, when developing tubers were 40–70 mm, at 9, 10,12 and 14 1 ha^-1 in single or split treatments. MH treatments did not produce phytotoxicity symptoms in the foliage and did not decrease tuber yield. MH increased tuber yield in Kennebec, Russet Burbank and Shepody in several experiments, while not in Atlantic and Ranger Russet. MH treatments delayed initial sprouting date and inhibited sprout growth during storage periods up to 8 months, which resulted in lower weight losses due to sprouting. Tuber dry matter content and fry color were similar or in some cases improved due to MH treatments, while no consistent results were found regarding reducing sugar content.     

Field performance of potato (Solanum spp.) cuttings in the warm tropics: Influence of planting system,hilling, density and pruning

Growing potatoes from cuttings for seed and table potato production has great potential in Asia. There is limited information available explaining the agronomic methodology of growing cuttings in the field. This research was conducted to assess the importance of 4 management variables on the growth and tuber yield of cuttings. Three planting systems were evaluated with and without hilling. Only hilling significantly improved yields and increased tuber number per plant by 50%. Hilling also reduced tuber greening. Increasing plant population from 40,000 to 100,000 per hectare resulted in a yield increase of at least 50%, however average tuber size decreased. Pruning of the apical shoot at or after transplanting did not improve branching, canopy cover or tuber yield. Yields from cuttings were equal to or greater than the tuber seed grown control treatments. Yields ranged from 15 to 20 t/ha which is acceptable for the warm growing conditions. These results show the potential of using cuttings in commercial growing of potatoes in the warm tropics where tuber seed is difficult to obtain and maintain.