Phytotoxicity of Oxidised and Reduced Nitrogen Aerosols on Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) Crop

Abstract

In a field trial (2012), simulated aerosols: NH4Cl (reduced) and NaNO2 (oxidised) @ 10 & 20 kg ha-1y-1 (˜ 100 ppm & ˜ 200 ppm respectively), 1000 cm3m-2 of each along with a control were misted to population of Kufri Jyoti at different growth stages viz., vegetative (10-60 DAS), tuber initiation (60-90 DAS) and tuber bulking >90DAS). The higher dose of aerosols lowered nitrate reductase activity, nitrogen use efficiency, cell membrane stability, tuber yield, but increased photosynthesis, peroxidise activity significantly. The mechanisms of injury in terms of higher peroxidase activity and lower membrane stability of leaf cells have been elucidated. Foliar feeding of nitrogenous pollutant in the form of aerosols to plants at juvenile stage is important in addition to basal use of recommended fertilizers.