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Relationship between Potato Yield and Oxygen Diffusion Rate of Subsoil¹

Numerous studies in the past have been made of the effects of soil compaction on potato yield by deliberately packing the soil in small experimental plots. Since information obtainable from such experiments has limited value in the economic assessment of crop production of an area, a study was conducted on 10 different farmers' fields to find out which soil physical property (or a combination of properties) may best define the prevailing productive capacity of a soil for potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.).

Various soil properties (stones, sand, silt, clay, bulk density, penetrometer readings, and organic matter) were measured according to the methods given by Black (1965) at a depth of 20 to 28 cm (8 to 11") where the compact soles usually occur. Oxygen diffusion rate (ODR), however, was determined at a moisture content of field capacity by the platinum microelectrode method (Lemon and Erickson, 1952) using a rate meter manufactured by Jensen Instruments, Tacoma, Wash.

Stepwise multiple regression analysis of potato yields of cultivar ‘Netted Gem’ and the soil properties indicated that ODR of subsoil was one single factor which highly correlated with marketable yield (r = +0.82). The correlation coefficient was significant at the 1% level of probability. Further addition of other properties did not improve the r value significantly.

The study indicates that the ODR of subsoil is a useful criteria to diagnose the prevailing physical condition of the soil which, in turn, could be related to the relative productive capacity of soil for potato production in New Brunswick, Canada.

Key Words: Compaction • Physical properties • Solanum tuberosum L.

Received for publication December 1, 1975.