Carrot yield response to nitrogen rate

Increasing fertilizer costs as well as environmental concerns are causing growers to question present fertilizer use. Two studies were conducted to determine the response of fresh pack carrot (Daucus carota L.) cultivar Fanci Pak, to reduced rates of applied N. In the first study, effects of reducing N by 20 and 40%, applied either preplant broadcast or as a split-application, preplant broadcast + topdress, were equal to an accepted grower application of 72 lb N/acre preplant broadcast, Nitrogen did not affect carrot stand or Canada No. 1 and total yield. Plant N concentration ranged from 3.2 to 4.1 % and was not affected by N treatments. In the second study, N was broadcast preplant at 88, 66, 44, 22, and 0 lb/acre. Carrot stand and Canada No. 1 and total yield were not affected at N rates used. Plant N concentration was significantly increased by treatment in 1 yr of the 2-yr study.