Final Report for FNE93-010

Note to readers, attached is the complete final report for FNE93-010.

Seven Central Maine potato growers initiated a program to better manage nitrogen in order to improve quantity and quality of the growing crop. The field work and computerization of data was performed by four area high school students under the supervision of an area crop specialist and the high school chemistry teacher. This demonstration project has been extremely successful and growers have committed to a long term sampling program. That program will continue to develop a data base to assist growers in making management decisions which will improve net income while protecting the environment.

The 1993 growing season was a very dry season having a major impact on yields and quality of the crop. Yields were adversely affected and quality was favorable affected because of improved maturity. In June, moisture became a problem and remained a problem until September after tuber bulking had taken place. From June 1 through August 30 the Corinna, Maine area received only 6.62 inches of rain. June 2 received 1.35 inches. The remainder of the rain came in small showers ranging for a trace to 0.5 inches. Primarily, wetting the soil surface and re-evaporating, these small showers provided little or no growth benefits to the tubers.

• FNE93-010 Final Report