Abstract

The effect of different levels and forms of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on cadmium (Cd) concentrations in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers, a large component of the northern European diet, was investigated with the aim of decreasing the Cd content. A high and a low Cd-accumulating cultivar were used in two field trials and a pot experiment. The N fertilizers tested were balanced N-phosphorus (P)-potassium (K) 11-5-18 + micronutrients, alkaline calcium nitrate and acidic ammonium sulfate at levels of 60, 160, and 240 kg N ha(-1) at planting or (for the higher N doses) split between two or three occasions. The Cd concentration in tubers of both cultivars decreased when increasing the N fertilizer from 60 to 160 or 240 kg N ha(-1), indicating that Cd uptake and translocation are not positively correlated to the growth rate of the potato plant. A strong positive linear correlation was found between the Cd concentration in leaves at 77 days after planting and the Cd concentration in tubers at harvest, irrespective of N treatment, although the Cd concentration was three-fold higher in the leaves. The genetic variation in leaf and tuber Cd accumulation was consistent, regardless of the form of N fertilizer used. Ammonium sulfate decreased soil pH and increased tuber Cd concentration in both cultivars compared with NPK fertilizer, possibly due to increased amounts of plant-available Cd arising from the pH decrease after ammonium sulfate application. The tuber Cd concentration in the low Cd-accumulating cultivar increased when fertilized with calcium nitrate, an effect attributed to Cd availability being influenced by the increased Ca2+ concentration.

Keywords

cadmium; potato; nitrogen; nitrate; ammonium; split application

Published in

Journal of Plant Nutrition
2011, Volume: 34, number: 3, pages: 345-360
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC

SLU Authors

• Larsson Jönsson, Helene

  • Horticulture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Asp, Håkan

  • Horticulture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2011.536877

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/60131