Foliar Potassium Fertilization and its Effect on Growth, Yield and Quality of Potato Grown under Loam-sandy Soil and Semi-arid Conditions

摘要

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of potato crop to potassium foliar pulverization in terms of improving vegetative growth, tuber yield and tuber size of potatoes grown on a loam-sandy soil in the semi-arid environment of Central East of Tunisia. The experimental layout was a randomized complete block design with 4 levels of potassium nitrate (ranging from 0 up to 2 g L-1) and 3 replicates. Increasing potassium nitrate rates resulted in a significant increase (0.05) in plant height, leaves number, leaf area, leaf relative water content and chlorophyll a concentration with values of 79.1 cm, 70 leaves plant-1, 400 cm2, 93% and 0.71 mg L-1, respectively at 95 Days After Planting (DAP). Tubers were harvested and evaluated. Statistical analysis among yield parameters showed no significant effect (0.05) of increasing potassium nitrate rates on tuber yield and tuber number. The average mean values were 1377.58 g and 10.44 tubers per plant, respectively. Under conditions of this experiment, it is concluded that potassium can be sufficient for potatoes over fertigation. The recommended rate for this region was 60 kg potassium sulphate per hectare.