Summary
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1.
Applications of acid fertilizer alone and in combination with sulphur in bands or when used with sulphur plowed under or disked into the soil reduced potato scab infection.
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2.
Greatest reduction of scab resulted from applications of 3200 pounds of sulphur per acre and acid fertilizer but the yield of potatoes was seriously reduced.
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3.
The least amount of scab occurred in plots showing soil reactions of approximately pH 3.5–3.8.
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4.
It is shown that growth of the potato scab organism was only partially inhibited in soils of low pH and that it gradually adapted itself to these conditions.
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5.
When lime was added to raise the soil reaction to approximately 5.4, scab became more severe.
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6.
In comparison with the crop of 1939 there was a noticeable decrease in percentage of clean potatoes in the two crops following the second application of sulphur in 1940, although the soil pH in most plots remained lower, except where lime had been applied.
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Literature cited
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The writers are indebted to Mr. A. M. Berridge, Supt. Lake City Experiment Station, Lake City, Michigan, for providing facilities for carrying on this project and his continued interest in the investigation. This investigation represents part of the work done under the cooperative Michigan Experiment Station-Bankhead-Jones Project 1B.
Published by permission of the Director, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. Journal Article Number 706 (N.S.).
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Muncie, J.H., Moore, H.C., Tyson, J. et al. The effect of sulphur and acid fertilizer on incidence of potato scab. American Potato Journal 21, 293–304 (1944). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02854942
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02854942