• ISSN 1008-505X
  • CN 11-3996/S
ZHOU Long, LÜ Yu, ZHU Qi-lin, LONG Guang-qiang, TANG Li. Effects of N application on potassium absorption and distribution of maize and potato in intercropping system[J]. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers, 2016, 22(6): 1485-1493. DOI: 10.11674/zwyf.15474
Citation: ZHOU Long, LÜ Yu, ZHU Qi-lin, LONG Guang-qiang, TANG Li. Effects of N application on potassium absorption and distribution of maize and potato in intercropping system[J]. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers, 2016, 22(6): 1485-1493. DOI: 10.11674/zwyf.15474

Effects of N application on potassium absorption and distribution of maize and potato in intercropping system

  • ObjectivesThe study aimed to explore the effects of the intercropping of maize and potato on potassium absorption, distribution and utilization of crops in different N application levels.
    MethodsA 2-year field experiment, included four N levels (unfertilized, N0; 1/2 conventional fertilized, N1; conventional fertilized, N2 and 3/2 conventional fertilized, N3), was conducted to study the effects of the nitrogen fertilization and intercropping on potassium absorption and distribution as well as absorption of maize and potato.
    ResultsThe yields of maize and potato were increased with the increase of N application in monoculture maize, and intercropping of maize and potato and monoculture potato, the yields were the maxima in the N2 and N3 levels. However, yields of intercropping potato first increased then reduced, the maximum was in the N1 level. Intercropping of maize and potato had advantage of the yield increases, and land equivalent ratio (LER) reduces with the increased of N application. The potassium uptakes of monoculture maize and intercropping maize were first increased and then decreased with the increase of nitrogen application, and reached the maxima in the N1 or N2 levels. The potassium uptakes of potato were increased with the rise of N application in monoculture, and first increased then reduced in the intercropping, reached the maxima in the N3 and N1 levels, respectively. The intercropping increased potassium uptakes of maize by 15.7-20.0 kg/hm2 (2013) and 22.6-78.3 kg/hm2 (2014) than those of the monoculture, and the difference was significant in the low N levels (N0 and N1). The potassium uptakes of maize were mainly concentrated in the straw, accounting for 64.5%-75% of the total potassium absorption (2013) and 61.6%-74.5% (2014), and the increased potassium was mainly allocated to the grain. However, potassium distribution of potato was no significantly different. The intercropping raised potassium use efficiency of maize, and had no significant effect on potato. Potassium absorption of LER was decreased with the increase of N application.
    ConclusionsThere is very significant interaction between the nitrogen application and the intercropping on potassium uptakes of maize and potato. When the N application level is 50% of currently used level (62.5 kg/hm2), the potential of increasing yields and potassium uptakes in the intercropping is the maximum. The potassium uptakes of the interaction will gradually be weakened with the increase of N application. Therefore, appropriate N application is neccessary for promoting potassium uptakes in the intercropping system of maize and potato.
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