Potassium nutrition of Kennebec and Russet Burbank potatoes in Tasmania: effect of soil and fertiliser potassium on yield, petiole and tuber potassium concentrations, and tuber quality

Abstract

The response of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars Russet Burbank and Kennebec to soil and fertiliser potassium (K) was studied on basaltic krasnozems of north-west Tasmania. Yield increases in response to fertiliser K were recorded at sites with up to 300-400 mg/kg of bicarbonate extractable soil K. The close correlation between relative yield and soil K indicated that soil K can reliably predict fertiliser requirements. Petiole K concentrations at early tuber set increased with fertiliser K at responsive sites; maximum yields were achieved with 12-14% petiole K for Kennebec and 11-13% for Russet Burbank. Petiole K concentrations provide an excellent indication of the K status of a growing crop. Tuber K concentrations increased with both soil and fertiliser K, and yields of 50-80 t/ha removed 180-380 kg K/ha in the tubers. At severely deficient sites specific gravity and crisp colour increased with low rates of fertiliser K, but the general trend was for fertiliser K to reduce specific gravity and crisp colour. Bruising susceptibility decreased with fertiliser K at some sites but the physiological disorder, 'hollow heart', was not influenced by fertiliser K. There were consistent differences between the 2 cultivars. Russet Burbank required higher soil K, had lower petiole and tuber K concentrations and removed less K in the marketable tubers.

Nitrogen and potassium fertilization of potatoes: Sugars and starch

“…Nitrogen appears to be indirectly related because of its effect on dry matter and relative maturity of the harvested tuber. Generally, K applications decrease reducing sugar and lighten chip color if yields increase (8,14,29). Plants adequately fertilized with N had tubers with lower reducing sugar concentrations at harvest and accumulated less reducing sugars during storage (15) .…”

Curva de crescimento e acúmulo de nutrientes pela cultura da batata cv. 'Atlantic'

“…O estádio IV ou período de maturação é marcado pelo início do amarelecimento dos caules e a senescência das folhas, indo até o final do ciclo (Roberts & Dole, 1985;Ojala, et al, 1990;Biemond & Vos, 1992). Na ausência de uma curva de absorção de nutrientes, a produção de MS fornece uma boa aproximação do acúmulo de nutrientes (Sousa & Coelho, 2001) e os fatores associados à produção de MS na cultura da batateira são: as práticas culturais, a maturidade dos tubérculos, a disponibilidade hídrica, a eficiência fotossintética e a adubação (Pereira, 1987;Beukema & Zaag, 1990;Chapman et al, 1992;Ewing, 1997;Panique et al, 1997;Fageria et al, 1997).…”

Niveles de NPK para la producción de minitubérculos de papa en invernadero en el Valle de Toluca

“…Giorgetta et al (1993) mencionan que el fosforo es importante en el establecimiento de la planta y la generación de estolones; probaron en invernadero una concentración de 72 mg L -1 de P, aplicado como superfosfato triple, donde lograron obtener 385 minitubérculos por m 2 , de los cuales, 53% pesó entre 5 y 40 g. Además, Chapman et al (1992); Rozo y Ñústez (2011) evaluaron tres niveles de fósforo (50, 100 y 150 kg ha -1 ) como P 2 O 5 con resultados en rendimiento iguales entre sí y superiores al testigo con nivel de cero kg ha -1 .…”

“…Giorgetta et al (1993) mention that the phosphorus is important in the establishment of the plant and generating stolons; glasshouse tested concentration of 72 mg L -1 of P, applied as triple superphosphate, where they managed to obtain 385 minitubers per m 2 , of which 53% weighed between 5 and 40 g. In addition, Chapman et al (1992); Rozo and Ñústez (2011) evaluated three levels of phosphorus (50, 100 and 150 kg ha -1 ) as P 2 O 5 results in equal performance with each other and higher than the control level of zero kg ha -1 .…”