Effects of Calcium Deficiency on Potato Sets in Acid Soils

Abstract

DURING the War, when many poor upland areas and commons in Britain were ploughed up for crop production, potatoes were commonly planted as a first crop in view of their tolerance to acid soil conditions. Many failures, however, were experienced where the soils were very strongly acid, with pH values of the order of 4·0, and it was shown that liming was necessary to correct the unfavourable conditions. Plants which survived on these acid soils usually showed pronounced symptoms of calcium deficiency in the haulms, and it was clear that the supply of this element was an important factor in determining success or failure of the crops.