Application of a Portable Chlorophyll Meter to Assess the Nitrogen Sufficiency Index and Nitrogen Requirements in Sweet Potatoes
Balanced nitrogen (N) supply is essential for high root yield in sweet potatoes (<i>Ipomoea potatoes</i> [L.] Lam.). A portable chlorophyll meter can support N fertilization management. Here, we determined the appropriate N sufficiency index (NSI) for sweet potato leaves to achieve the b...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-11-01
|
| Series: | Agriculture |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2167 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850059281050632192 |
|---|---|
| author | Fabrício E. Rodrigues Adalton M. Fernandes Arthur V. Oliveira Pablo F. Vargas Emerson F. C. Souza Politon T. P. Guedes Ricardo T. Figueiredo Ítala T. Guimarães |
| author_facet | Fabrício E. Rodrigues Adalton M. Fernandes Arthur V. Oliveira Pablo F. Vargas Emerson F. C. Souza Politon T. P. Guedes Ricardo T. Figueiredo Ítala T. Guimarães |
| author_sort | Fabrício E. Rodrigues |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Balanced nitrogen (N) supply is essential for high root yield in sweet potatoes (<i>Ipomoea potatoes</i> [L.] Lam.). A portable chlorophyll meter can support N fertilization management. Here, we determined the appropriate N sufficiency index (NSI) for sweet potato leaves to achieve the best leaf N status, plant growth, N uptake and removal, and storage root yield and quality. Experiments were conducted at three sites (Braúna, São Manuel, and Regente Feijó) in São Paulo, Brazil, using a randomized block design with four replicates. Treatments included a control (without N application), conventional N fertilization (50 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>), reference N fertilization (150 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>), and NSI-based N fertilization (NSI: 90% or 95%, based on the chlorophyll meter readings). Plant response to N fertilization was low, with no N deficiency observed in the conventional and chlorophyll meter-managed treatments. NSI < 90% was better than NSI < 95% for N top-dressing management, reducing N application rates by 44–66%, depending on the site. In contrast, NSI < 95% increased the N application rate without any yield benefit. Thus, monitoring N fertilization using a portable chlorophyll meter with 90% NSI can reduce N fertilization rates without negatively impacting the sweet potato root yield. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-150a31b3bfe246c99a98fadf871fff7a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-150a31b3bfe246c99a98fadf871fff7a2025-08-20T02:50:56ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722024-11-011412216710.3390/agriculture14122167Application of a Portable Chlorophyll Meter to Assess the Nitrogen Sufficiency Index and Nitrogen Requirements in Sweet PotatoesFabrício E. Rodrigues0Adalton M. Fernandes1Arthur V. Oliveira2Pablo F. Vargas3Emerson F. C. Souza4Politon T. P. Guedes5Ricardo T. Figueiredo6Ítala T. Guimarães7College of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, São Paulo, BrazilCollege of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, São Paulo, BrazilCollege of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, São Paulo, BrazilCenter for Tropical Roots and Starches (CERAT), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus, Falcon Heights, MN 55108, USACollege of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, São Paulo, BrazilCollege of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, São Paulo, BrazilCollege of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, São Paulo, BrazilBalanced nitrogen (N) supply is essential for high root yield in sweet potatoes (<i>Ipomoea potatoes</i> [L.] Lam.). A portable chlorophyll meter can support N fertilization management. Here, we determined the appropriate N sufficiency index (NSI) for sweet potato leaves to achieve the best leaf N status, plant growth, N uptake and removal, and storage root yield and quality. Experiments were conducted at three sites (Braúna, São Manuel, and Regente Feijó) in São Paulo, Brazil, using a randomized block design with four replicates. Treatments included a control (without N application), conventional N fertilization (50 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>), reference N fertilization (150 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>), and NSI-based N fertilization (NSI: 90% or 95%, based on the chlorophyll meter readings). Plant response to N fertilization was low, with no N deficiency observed in the conventional and chlorophyll meter-managed treatments. NSI < 90% was better than NSI < 95% for N top-dressing management, reducing N application rates by 44–66%, depending on the site. In contrast, NSI < 95% increased the N application rate without any yield benefit. Thus, monitoring N fertilization using a portable chlorophyll meter with 90% NSI can reduce N fertilization rates without negatively impacting the sweet potato root yield.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2167<i>Ipomoea batatas</i>SPAD indexleaf N statusN top-dressing fertilization |
| spellingShingle | Fabrício E. Rodrigues Adalton M. Fernandes Arthur V. Oliveira Pablo F. Vargas Emerson F. C. Souza Politon T. P. Guedes Ricardo T. Figueiredo Ítala T. Guimarães Application of a Portable Chlorophyll Meter to Assess the Nitrogen Sufficiency Index and Nitrogen Requirements in Sweet Potatoes Agriculture <i>Ipomoea batatas</i> SPAD index leaf N status N top-dressing fertilization |
| title | Application of a Portable Chlorophyll Meter to Assess the Nitrogen Sufficiency Index and Nitrogen Requirements in Sweet Potatoes |
| title_full | Application of a Portable Chlorophyll Meter to Assess the Nitrogen Sufficiency Index and Nitrogen Requirements in Sweet Potatoes |
| title_fullStr | Application of a Portable Chlorophyll Meter to Assess the Nitrogen Sufficiency Index and Nitrogen Requirements in Sweet Potatoes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Application of a Portable Chlorophyll Meter to Assess the Nitrogen Sufficiency Index and Nitrogen Requirements in Sweet Potatoes |
| title_short | Application of a Portable Chlorophyll Meter to Assess the Nitrogen Sufficiency Index and Nitrogen Requirements in Sweet Potatoes |
| title_sort | application of a portable chlorophyll meter to assess the nitrogen sufficiency index and nitrogen requirements in sweet potatoes |
| topic | <i>Ipomoea batatas</i> SPAD index leaf N status N top-dressing fertilization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2167 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fabricioerodrigues applicationofaportablechlorophyllmetertoassessthenitrogensufficiencyindexandnitrogenrequirementsinsweetpotatoes AT adaltonmfernandes applicationofaportablechlorophyllmetertoassessthenitrogensufficiencyindexandnitrogenrequirementsinsweetpotatoes AT arthurvoliveira applicationofaportablechlorophyllmetertoassessthenitrogensufficiencyindexandnitrogenrequirementsinsweetpotatoes AT pablofvargas applicationofaportablechlorophyllmetertoassessthenitrogensufficiencyindexandnitrogenrequirementsinsweetpotatoes AT emersonfcsouza applicationofaportablechlorophyllmetertoassessthenitrogensufficiencyindexandnitrogenrequirementsinsweetpotatoes AT politontpguedes applicationofaportablechlorophyllmetertoassessthenitrogensufficiencyindexandnitrogenrequirementsinsweetpotatoes AT ricardotfigueiredo applicationofaportablechlorophyllmetertoassessthenitrogensufficiencyindexandnitrogenrequirementsinsweetpotatoes AT italatguimaraes applicationofaportablechlorophyllmetertoassessthenitrogensufficiencyindexandnitrogenrequirementsinsweetpotatoes |