Effect of Drip Fertigation on Potato Productivity with Basal Application of Loss Control Fertilizer in Sandy Soil

To establish appropriate drip fertigation scheduling with loss control fertilizer (LCF) as a basal fertilizer in sandy soil, a 2-year field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of five fertilizer levels (10, 30, 50, 70 and 90% of the recommended fertilizer dose (RFD) in 2012, and 10, 35, 60, 85 and 110% of RFD in 2013) on potato biomass, tuber yield and fertilizer and irrigation water productivity. All LCFs were applied as basal fertilizer while drip fertigation was applied when soil matric potential at 0.2m depth under the emitters reached -25kPa. Results showed 35-60% of RFD resulted in a better dry matter distribution between above ground and tubers during tuber bulking. Tuber yield initially increased and then decreased with increasing fertilizer rates in both seasons. The highest irrigation water productivity was for 50% of RFD in 2012 and 35% of RFD in 2013. Fertilizer productivity decreased slowly after fertigation level increased to about 50% of RFD. Therefore, 35-50% of RFD is suggested scheduling for potato production in sandy soils under drip fertigation with LCF as basal fertilizer in arid and semi-arid regions in the north of China. Copyright (c) 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.