Nitrogen Agronomic Efficiency and Estimated Losses in Potato with Enhanced-Efficiency Fertilizers

MATEOS INCHAUSPE, FACUNDO; SILVA, SANDRA E.; CARCIOCHI, WALTER D.; DELFINO, JUAN; REUSSI CALVO, NAHUEL I.; GILETTO, CLAUDIA M.; ALEJANDRO, AGUSTÍN; CASSINO, MARÍA N.

Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science

Taylor and Francis

Año: 2022 p. 1 - 14

0365-0340

The objectives were to i) assess the effect of enhanced-efficiency nitrogen(N) fertilizers (EENF) [maleic itaconic acid copolymer (NSN) or 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP)] and urea on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)tuber yield, N agronomic efficiency (NAE), N recovery efficiency in tuber(NREtuber) and plant (NREplant), N physiological efficiency, residual inorganicN in soil at harvest (Nresidual) and N losses (Nlosses) and ii) determine theimpact of the amount of drainage water on NAE and Nlosses. On-farmexperiments were conducted in seven sites with two fertilizers (EENF andurea) and two N rates (0 and 100 kg N ha−1). A N mass balance was used tocalculate Nlosses. At two sites (one with NSN and one with DMPP), tuberyield response to N was greater with EENF than urea (avg. 5.0 Mg ha−1).NAE, NREtuber and NREplant were 17%, 31% and 25% higher with EENF thanurea, respectively. These efficiencies decreased as drainage waterincreased. The estimated Nlosses were 12% lower with EENF, being thereduction particularly relevant with increasing drainage water. Therefore,using EENF in combination with irrigation management that ensures lowdrainage water amounts is essential for maximizing the fertilizer use efficiency and minimizing Nlosses in potato production systems.