NUTRIENT-UPTAKE AND PARTITIONING BY ZUCCHINI SQUASH, HEAD LETTUCE AND POTATO IN RESPONSE TO NITROGEN

The effect of N application level on uptake and partitioning of nutrients by zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) cv. Blackjack, head lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cv. Montello and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Sebago was investigated in sand culture experiments with a stable nutrient supply. Plants were grown during 14 (zucchini squash), 8 (lettuce) and 12 weeks (potato). Five nitrate N levels ranging from 2-36 mol m-3 for lettuce and 2-43 mol m-3 for zucchini squash and potato were applied in a complete nutrient solution. Gamma x quadratic response surface models fitted actual nutrient uptake data (R2>0.95). From these models, predicted nutrient uptake, partitioning of nutrients between plant parts and nutrient uptake rates were derived. Nitrogen had a pronounced effect on nutrient uptake of all species. The maximum predicted whole plant (excluding roots) uptake of N and K (parenthesis) was calculated (mol m-3 N) for zucchini squash (19.3, 17.7), lettuce (16.5, 12.1) and potato (12.7, 11.2) respectively. An N deficiency (2 mol m-3) did not result in remobilization of nutrients from vegetative to reproductive growth for zucchini squash and potato. Remobilization of N and K from outer leaves to head occurred for lettuce over the last week of the growth period at all N levels. An N deficiency increased partitioning of N and K by 36 and 54% respectively to reproductive growth for zucchini squash compared with adequate N for fresh yield (14 mol m-3), whereas an N deficiency had a negligible effect on partitioning to reproductive growth for potato. Partitioning, as measured by the ratio of nutrients in fruit, head or tuber to whole plant increased over the growth period, and at final harvest, partitioning was lowest for Ca (0.22-0.24 zucchini squash, 0.21-0.32 lettuce and 0.03-0.09 potato) and highest for K (0.39-0.60 zucchini squash, 0.59-0.68 lettuce and 0.63-0.86 potato). Potato tubers and lettuce head, in contrast to zucchini squash fruit, were dominant sinks for N, K and P.