Can foliar urea reduce nitrogen losses from potato production in Atlantic Canada?

Description of Activity and Deliverables: This activity in the proposed 4R Nutrient Stewardship Research Network project focuses on a major horticultural crop for Canada and Maritime Canada, potato. Potato is a unique cropping system prone to major N losses because of high N application rates, coarse soil and humid conditions. The project aims to manage the availability of nitrate for better crop uptake and reduction in nitrous oxide emissions and leaching.

Objectives:

1. To develop a potato nitrogen demand function to allow the examination of the synchrony between soil N supply and plant N demand as influenced by climate.
2. To evaluate the use of nitrate exposure (NE) and anion exchange membranes (IEMs) for assessing the potential for N loss.
3. To evaluate whether in-season foliar urea (Right Product, Right Time, Right Place) in combination with reduced N fertilizer rates (Right Rate) at planting is an effective BMP for sustaining potato yields and reducing nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions and nitrate (NO₃^-) leaching.
4. To demonstrate the value of split N applications in decreasing N₂O emissions.
5. To disseminate findings to producers.

Deliverables:

• Develop a Plant N demand function for potato N uptake as influenced by climate.
• Assessment of ion exchange membranes for estimating nitrate exposure.
• Practical system for measuring the potential for N loss from potato production systems.
• Assessment of the potential for in-season application of foliar urea in combination with reduced N fertilization at planting is a BMP for reducing N₂O emissions.
• Demonstration of the practicality of split application of N as BMP for reducing N2O emissions.
• Provide information on N management BMP for potato production in Atlantic Canada for use in the support systems in this project.