Comparison of the Effects of Potassium Sulphate and Potassium Chloride Fertilisation on Quality Parameters, Including Volatile Compounds, of Potato Tubers After Harvest and Storage

Abstract

Potatoes are an important staple food with high yield potential and great nutritional value. Potassium (K) fertilisation can increase both tuber yield and quality, but its effects differ depending on the K fertilisation form. Potatoes are known to be chloride sensitive, since chloride ions can influence, for example, the starch content. Therefore, fertilisations shortly before planting using potassium sulphate (K2SO4) are often recommended instead of potassium chloride (KCl). However, the use of different fertilisation forms is contradictory, and the chloride sensitivity of potatoes remains unclear. To examine this issue in more detail, a 2-year field experiment using two cultivars, “Laura” and “Marabel,” was conducted. K fertilisation with 240 kg K2O as K2SO4 and KCl was applied, and the control remained unfertilised. Quality traits, including internal and external parameters, were analysed after harvest and after 5 months of storage at 6°C. The results revealed minor effects on yield, but the starch content and ascorbic acid concentration were reduced due to the KCl supply. Furthermore, the reducing sugar concentration in tubers increased during storage more after KCl compared to K2SO4 fertilisation. Moreover, volatile compounds were affected by the K fertilisation form, with higher levels of lipid-derived off-flavour compounds after KCl application. However, the effects of cultivation year, cultivar, and storage interacted with the influence of the fertilisation form. In summary, KCl fertilisation can disadvantageously influence several quality traits, but the use of potato cultivars should also be considered when recommending fertilisers.

Potassium Humate and Silicate Combined with Compost Application to Reduce the Harmful Effects of the Irrigation Water Salinity on Potato Plants and on the Soil Available Nutrient Npk

“…Furthermore, control treatment (W1) had the highest chlorophyll values, while W3 had the lowest. When compared to the control treatment, the highest values of all components were obtained with F2 (foliar potassium silicate) rather than coated tuber with potassium silicate (F3) compared to (F0).These results are agreeable with (Wilmer et al, 2022)who explained that adding potassium raises the sugar content of potato tubers to a certain level, and then begins to decrease. Similarly, data in Table 6 reveals that The greatest uptake values of N, P, and K were attained by spraying potassium silicate in addition to compost in soil (F2) (19.19 and 19.16) ; (2.52 and 2.46) and (31.32 and 30.31) for N, P and K (kg.acre -1 ) in potatoes shoot.…”

Effects of Source and Rates of Potassium Fertilizer on Yield Traits and Potassium Use Efficiency of Potato in a Kenyan Ferralsol

“…However, during periods of soil moisture deficiency, K2SO4 form of K can give better tuber yields compared to KCL. Previous researchers have reported a higher yield contribution of K2SO4 than KCL [15,16], but a similar yield increase from KCL than K2SO4 has been reported in one potato genotype [17]. A review of 48 papers on K nutrition in potato shows that there is no consistent superiority of either K2SO4 or KCL on tuber yield increment in potato [18].…”

Judicial nutrient management for sustainable production of groundnut: A Review

“…Potassium is also found from minerals and rocks but its availability is lower comparatively than N and P (Jena, 2021) [52] . Most common potassic fertilizers are potassium chloride and potassium sulphate (Wilmer et al, 2022) [139] . The low nutritional content and sluggish release of organic fertilisers make them unsuitable for meeting the demands of the current generation; instead, artificial fertilisers are required to provide plants with the nutrients they require (Ayilara et al, 2020) [13] .…”