California Crop Fertilization Guidelines

A collaboration between CDFA, FREP and UC Davis
 
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  6. Cauliflower Nitrogen Uptake and Partitioning

Cauliflower Nitrogen Uptake and Partitioning

The Fertilization guidelines can also be found on the UC Davis Nutrient Management website .

Seasonal N Uptake

Season N Uptake Curve Graph

The N uptake curve is based on data from eight summer-planted commercial cauliflower fields in the Salinas Valley [3].

Nitrogen Partitioning

Nitrogen partitioning pie chart

Less than one third of the total aboveground N is removed with the harvested parts [1,2].

Nitrogen Removed at Harvest

Cauliflower yield and N removed at harvest from different studies.

Study location Years Marketable yield N application rate Aboveground N Harvested N Source
    (lbs/acre) (cwt/acre) (lbs/acre) (lbs/acre) (lbs/acre)  
Central Coast 2012-13 17,577 160 306 277 60 [2]
Germany 1996-97 — — 270 264 95 [1]

Links

 

References

  1. Kage H., Alt C., Stuetzel, H., 2003. Aspects of nitrogen use efficiency of cauliflower II. Productivity and nitrogen partitioning as influenced by N supply. Journal of Agricultural Science 141, 17-29.
  2. Smith, R., Cahn, M., Hartz, T.K., 2013. Survey of nitrogen uptake and applied irrigation water in broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage production in the Salinas Valley. CDFA FREP Proceedings 89, 117-119.
  3. Smith, R., Cahn, M., Hartz, T., Love, P., Farrara, B., 2016. Nitrogen dynamics of cole crop production: implications for fertility management and environmental protection. HortScience 51, 1586-1591.