Rutabagas - Fertility

Nitrogen

If manure is applied or legume sod is plowed down, reduce the nitrogen (N) application. (See Table 1-8, Adjustment of Nitrogen Requirement Where Sod Containing Legumes Is Plowed Down, and Table 1-7, Average Amounts of Available Nutrients for Different Types of Manure, on page 9.)

Apply up to 35 kg N/ha (31 lb/ac). If manure is used in the rotation, apply it at least 1 year before the rutabaga crop is grown.

Phosphorus

Test the soil to determine phosphorus requirements. Where the soil test values are 61 mg P per L soil (ppm) or higher, rutabagas are unlikely to respond to additional phosphate applications. For soils testing lower than 61 mg P per L soil (ppm), see Table 1-10, Phosphorus Requirements: Vegetables on Mineral Soils, on page 12.

Potassium

Test the soil to determine potassium requirements. Where the soil test values are 181 mg K per L soil (ppm) or higher, rutabagas are unlikely to respond to additional potash applications. For soils testing lower than 181 mg K per L soil (ppm), see Table 1-12, Potassium Requirements: Vegetables on Mineral Soils, on page 14.

If phosphate and potash are required, apply and incorporate them prior to planting.

Micronutrients

Crops vary greatly in their response to micronutrient fertilizers. For complete information, see the section Micronutrients, on page 16.

Boron

Water-core or brown heart, caused by boron deficiency, first appears in young, growing roots as firm, brownish, water-soaked patches. Severely affected rutabagas may turn punky inside during storage.

Boron can be mixed with preplant fertilizer applications. Apply boron-enriched fertilizer as uniformly as possible. Foliar applications of Solubor are often as effective as larger amounts applied to the soil. Make the first foliar application when the roots are about 1.5-2.5 cm (2/3-1 in.) in diameter. The second and third applications may be applied at 10- to 14-day intervals. See Table 1-13, Application Rates for Magnesium, Calcium and Micronutrients, on page 16.

Do not combine pesticides with boron sprays unless the label specifies compatibility. Use caution when applying boron. This nutrient can build to toxic levels quite quickly, harming rotational crops.

Related Links

• Publication 363 - Vegetable Production Recommendations

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