OPTIMIZING PHOSPHORUS AND ZINC CONCENTRATIONS IN HYDROPONIC CHELATOR-BUFFERED NUTRIENT SOLUTION FOR RUSSET BURBANK POTATO

Abstract

High rates of phosphorus (P) fertilizer for potato production have potentially negative environmental and nutritional consequences, including antagonistic interactions with micronutrients. Variable P or zinc (Zn) treatments were evaluated in chelator-buffered solutions to identify deficient, sufficient, and excess concentrations for Russet Burbank potato. Visual observations, dry matter, and nutrient concentrations confirmed 0.1 and 2 μM as deficient, 6 to 54 μM as sufficient and 162 and 456 μM Zn as excessive under variable Zn; and 32 μM as deficient, 64 to 512 as sufficient and 1024 and 2048 μM P as excessive under variable P. A strong impact of solution Zn on P concentration and almost no impact of solution P on Zn concentration of potato were observed. New and old shoot and root Mn concentrations were affected by solution P. Results facilitate further study of P-Zn interactions using the chelator-buffered solution.

Keywords:

• chelator-buffered solution
• deficient
• adequate and excess P and Zn
• potato
• P
• Zn and Mn nutrition

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors wish to express appreciation to Lorie Ewing, Manager, Potato Tissue Culture Lab, Department of Plant, Soil and Entomological Sciences, Moscow, Idaho for providing potato plantlets and to the BYU Office of Research and Creative Activities, the CSREES Hatch program, and the Idaho Potato Commission for funding the project.