Potato and soil 15N recoveries from different labelled forage root and shoot

An improved understanding of the contribution of a preceding forage crop to a subsequent potato crop can improve nitrogen (N) utilization in potato production. This study used two rotation experiments to estimate the N contribution from labelled shoot and root of red clover (RC, Trifolium pratense), timothy (T, Phleum pratense) and a red clover/timothy mixture (M) to a subsequent potato crop using microplots in the field. Forage crops were grown with (NH4NO3)-N-14-N-14 and (NH4NO3)-N-15-N-15 (98 atom %). The residue exchange technique was used to compare residue treatments of (i) whole plant labelled; (ii) labelled shoot only; and (iii) labelled root only in Experiment 1, and residue treatments of (i) whole plant labelled; (ii) labelled shoot/unlabelled root; and (iii) labelled root/unlabelled shoot in Experiment 2. Averaged across forage treatments, recoverable root biomass represented 64 and 37% of total forage biomass, and the total N-15 recovery from labelled roots was 52 and 62% of the total N-15 recovery from shoots, in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Therefore, forage roots represented a substantial source of N for the subsequent crop. However, less than 5% of the N-15 from crop residues was recovered in the potato vines plus tubers, and most of the N-15 was recovered in the soil, regardless of the forage or residue treatments. Potato tuber and vine dry matter was greater for the RC than the T treatment for all residue treatments, a finding attributed to greater potato N accumulation for the RC treatment. It is therefore important to consider the contribution of forage roots when studying N cycling in potato systems. Potato N requirements were satisfied more by soil-derived N rather than from fall incorporated forage residues.

Automated summary

Understanding the contribution of a preceding forage crop to a subsequent potato crop can enhance nitrogen utilization in potato production. This study found that the roots of red clover and timothy played a significant role in providing nitrogen for the subsequent potato crop, highlighting the importance of considering forage roots in nitrogen cycling in potato systems.