Effect of Potassium Sources on Some Potato Cultivars Grown in Sandy Soil by Using Pivot Irrigation System

Abstract

Study was carried out during two successive summer seasons of 2021 and 2022 at private filed in El-Salhyia El-Gadida District, Sharkia Governorate, to study response of some potato cultivars to potassium sources as foliar application under sandy soil conditions using pivot irrigation system. This experiment included 25 treatments, which were the combinations between five potato cultivars (Spunta , Santana , Cara , Lady Rosetta and Hermes) and four potassium sources treatments , i.e. spraying with potassium silicate (KSil , (potassium citrate (KCit), potassium folvate (KF) and potassium thiosulpahte (KTS) as well as control (without spraying). These treatments were arranged in a split plot design with three replicates. Potato cultivars were randomly arranged in the main plots and potassium sources were randomly distributed in the sub plots. Spraying Cara cultivar with KCit increased number of tubers/ plant and total yield /hectare, whereas spraying Spunta cultivar with KCit increased average tuber weight in both seasons. While, spraying Hermes cultivar with KSil as foliar spray increased DM, starch and total carbohydrates in tubers. Spunta cultivar with water only increased total sugars in tubers. In addition, the fertilization of Cara cultivar with KCit as a foliar application recorded a relative increase in the total yield of tubers amounting to about 72.50% as an average of the two seasons compared to the same cultivar without.