Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Upland Carrot Affected by Various Basal Fertilizers and Fertigation Ratios

Fertigation is one of alternative measures not only to ensure crop yield but also to improve nutrient use efficiency. In this work, we evaluated growth and yield, nutrient uptake and nitrogen use efficiency of upland carrot. To do our goal, various basal fertilizers (single chemical and slow release) and fertigations were employed based on the result of soil diagnosis, and the detail was as follows; basal:fertigation = 100:0, 50:50, 30:70. Growth, yield, nutrient (N, P, K) uptake and nitrogen use efficiency were not different from treatments. However, slow release fertilizer resulted in enhancing economic yield (root) and nitrogen use efficiency compared to single chemical fertilizer, and an adjustment of basal:top dressing (fertigation) was relatively effective. In conclusion, the current results suggest that fertigation is favorable for upland carrot production, and the further study including the comparison with conventional practice (broadcasting) and organic fertilizers as a basal source is required to validate fertigation effect.Economic yield and nitrogen use efficiency of upland carrot under the growth condition with different basal fertilizers and fertigation rates. ns: no significance.