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The influence of potassium fertilizer application on tuber yield and mineral element content of potato petioles during the growing season

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Abstract

Potassium was applied at rates equivalent to 0, 135, and 250 pounds per acre (0, 151, 180 kg K/ha) to study the effect of soil applied K on tuber yields and concentration of mineral elements in the petioles of potato plants during growth both measured at 14 day intervals. Petioles were analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, Fe, Mg, Zn, Cu, Al, Mn, and B.

Seasonal trends in petiolar K content were highly correlated with tuber bulking regardless of rate of K application. Increasing K application rates generally increased petiolar levels of K and Zn (early in the season) and decreased the levels of N, Mg, Ca, Zn (late in the season), Al, Fe, Cu, and B in the petioles. Concentrations of P and Mn were unaffected by K applications. Seasonal trends in the mineral element content of petioles were not influenced by K.

Results indicate that a prediction model for tuber yield based upon trends in the K content of petioles is valid under differing soil levels of K.

Resumen

Se aplicó potasio a tazas equivalentes a 0, 135 y 250 libras por acre (0, 151,280 Kg/Ha) para estudiar el efecto del suelo con potasio aplicado sobre el rendimiento de tubérculos y la concentración de elementos minérales en los peciolos de plantas de papa durante el crecimiento medido a 14 días de intervalos. Los peciolos se analizaron por N, P, K, Ca, Fe, Mg, Zn, Cu, Al, Mn, y B.

Tendencias estacionales en el contenido de K en los peciolos se correlacionaron altamente con la producción de tubérculos a cualquier taza de aplicación de K aplicaciones con tazas altas de K, generalmente aumentaron los niveles en los peciolos de K y Zn (temprano en la estación) y disminuyeron los niveles de N, Mg, Ca, Zn (tarde en la estación), Al, Fe, Cu, y B en los peciolos. Las concentraciones de P y Mn no fueron afectadas por las aplicaciones K. Tendencias estacionales en el contenido de elementos, minerales en los peciolos no fueron influenciados por K.

Los resultados indican que un modelo de predicción para el rendimiento de tubérculos, basado en tendencias en el contenido de K es válido bajo suelos con niveles variables de K.

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Scientific Journal Series Paper No. 10012. Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. This paper is part of a thesis submitted by the senior author in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

This research was supported in part by a grant from the Red River Valley Potato Growers Association.

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Holm, D.G., Nylund, R.E. The influence of potassium fertilizer application on tuber yield and mineral element content of potato petioles during the growing season. American Potato Journal 55, 265–273 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02852135

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02852135

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