Effect of Fertilisation with Ash from Biomass Combustion on the Mechanical Properties of Potato Tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.) Grown in Two Types of Soil

Abstract

The aim of the research was to determine the effect of fertilising with various doses of ash from biomass combustion (D2–D6) compared to control plots and classic NPK (D1) fertiliser on the morphological and mechanical properties of potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.). The field experiment was carried out in the years 2019–2021 (south-eastern Poland, 49°59′ N, 21°57′ E) on two types of soil: Gleyic Chernozem (silty loam) and Haplic Luvisol (silt). The values of mechanical parameters, such as the peel and flesh punching force (FD), deformation (DR) and energy (ED) needed to destroy the test sample, were assessed. The biometric features of the tubers were also assessed. It was found that tubers obtained from the experimental fields where D3 and D4 ash fertiliser doses were applied (corresponding to doses of 188 and 282 kg∙ha−1 K) had the highest tuber yields and the highest resistance to mechanical damage under quasi-static loads. Ash from biomass combustion can be an alternative to conventional mineral fertilizers and can be used in the development of mineral fertilization plans for sustainable agriculture, which will help to solve the problem of storage of this waste.

Effect of Soil Type and Application of Ecological Fertilizer Composed of Ash from Biomass Combustion on Selected Physicochemical, Thermal, and Rheological Properties of Potato Starch

“…The mineral composition of the ash used was dominated by potassium ranging from 99.6 kg ha −1 year −1 (D1) to 469 kg ha −1 year −1 (D6). However, potassium was not present in the control fertilizer [5]. The two-factor analysis of variance showed a significant statistical influence of all the factors analyzed on the phosphorus content in starch.…”

“…Mineral nitrogen fertilizer (in the form of RSM ® 32% N (aqueous solution of urea ammonium nitrate; density, 1.32 kg/dm −3 )), monoammonium phosphate (MAP) NH 4 H 2 PO 4 (12% N-NH 4 52% P 2 O 5 (22.7% P)), and phosphorus (in the form of Monoammonium phosphate (MAP)) were constant. In variants D2 to D6, ashes from forest biomass combustion (70%) and agricultural biomass (30%) were used as fertilizer [5]. The potatoes were planted in the third decade of April, when the soil at a depth of 10 cm reached a temperature of approximately 6-8 • C. The cast used 40 thousand plants per ha.…”

“…The contents of basic macro-and microelements (Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) were determined by means of the atomic absorption spectrometry technique (HITACHI Z-2000 Tokyo, Japan) after wet mineralization in 60% HNO 3 , according to method described by Szpunar-Krok et al [5]. Phosphorus content was determined by the spectrophotometric method [12].…”

“…The ash resulting from the combustion of forest and agricultural biomass is a natural and cheap source of potassium, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, and a number of other minerals. Thus, fertilizing agricultural crops with such ash will permit the return of these valuable nutrients to the soil, reduce the doses of the chemical fertilizers used, and, thus, reduce the costs of cultivation [5]. Therefore, research issues should be expanded on the impact of fertilizing with ashes from biomass combustion, the type of soil, and the impact of these factors on selected properties of potato starch.…”

Chemical composition of Lavatera thuringiaca L. biomass ash after pre-sowing stimulation of seeds with He–Ne laser light

“…Zapałowska et al 20 report that the application of biomass ash at a rate of 12.8 t ha −1 increased the potassium content of Jerusalem artichoke plants to 5.63 g K kg −1 . Szpunar-Krok et al 21 found that application of biomass ash fertilizer increases potato tuber yields and resistance to mechanical damage under quasi-static loads. The use of biomass ash as a fertilizer may be a sustainable strategy to maintain the availability of elements including phosphorus in soils 11 thus improving their agricultural suitability.…”