Boron and Manganese Fertilization on Russet Burbank Potato.

Manganese (Mn) is an essential nutrient for potato growth. The University of Idaho fertilizer recommendations for Russet Burbank potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) suggest application of Mn fertilizer when DTPA soil test levels are below 6-8 mg Mn kg^-1. The soil on the Brigham Young University-Idaho farm tends to be low in Mn at about 2 mg Mn kg^-1. Studies were done in 2015 and 2016 to evaluate the efficiency of various manganese treatments on Russet Burbank potato. The Mn fertilizers were applied as soil or foliar treatments at rates ranging from 1 to 10 kg ha^-1. No phytotoxic effects were observed. In 2015, only one treatment (GET treated Mn, Land View Fertilizer, Rupert, ID) showed a crop response with 3.9 Mg ha^-1 increase in US No. 1 yield. Petiole samples showed no differences in Mn concentration for any treatment. Further studies are being evaluated in 2016 and will be reported.