Short-term management impacts to soil properties and potato yield in Maine potato production

Background and Aims Improved soil health can enhance plant resilience against diseases, boost nutritional fertility, prevent erosion, and improve crop yields. However, certain agricultural practices can negatively impact soil health, as observed in potato production, which commonly involves intensive tillage, short crop rotations, and control of soilborne diseases. Methods The impact of management practices on soil health and potato yields over four years was examined through six management factors: rotation length, non-grain rotation crops, green manures, compost amendments, soil fumigation, and potato variety. Relationships between soil properties, potato yields, and management practices were evaluated statistically. Results Five soil health metrics were significantly related to management factors and yields: organic matter, total organic carbon, zinc, Olsen phosphorus, and copper. Compost amendment increased potato yields, organic carbon, organic matter, and zinc. In contrast, rotation length negatively affected yield, organic matter, phosphorus, copper, and zinc, although this conflicts with previous research and could be related to environmental factors or study length. Other management factors were not significantly related to yield nor these five soil health metrics. Conclusion Compost amendment and rotation length were found to be the most important management practices in altering soil properties and potato yields. While long-term effects were not explored in this study, these results may aid farmers in developing crop management plans to improve soil health and increase yields.