Effect of sulphur fertilisation on the content of macroelements and their ionic ratios in potato tubers

Abstract

Next to nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium, sulphur plays an important role in plant metabolism and is considered to be one of the most important nutrients. As sulphur deficit in Polish soils has been increasing in the last few decades, research has been carried out in order to evaluate the impact of different sulphur rates and forms on the content of macroelements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Na) and their ratios in the Mila cultivar potato tubers. A strict, three-year field experiment was set up on Haplic Luvisol with acid reaction (5.3 pH KCl), mean richness in available forms of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium but low in sulphur. The field experiments involved the sulphur application in doses of 20 and 40 kg S kg-1 in the form of sulphate (VI) (K 2 SO 4 and (NH 4) 2 SO 4) as well as in elemental form (Wigor S, containing 90% of pure sulphur and 10% of bentonite). Although potatoes represent the group of crops with low sulphur requirements, the research has clearly indicated that this component has definite impact on the content of macroelements in tubers. It was found that sulphur application, irrespective of its form and rate, compared with control sample generally increased the content of nitrogen, sulphur and magnesium in potato tubers, decreasing at the same time calcium content. The effect of the form of sulphur fertilisers on the content of macroelements was not univocal. The values of all the ratios calculated (K + :Mg +2 , K + :(Ca +2 +Mg +2) and (K + +Na +):(Ca +2 +Mg +2)), except for K + :Ca +2 , have generally decreased after sulphur application, which indicates positive changes in the nutritive value of potato tubers.

Wpływ nawożenia roślin ziemniaka (Solanum tuberosum L.) na zawartość i jakość skrobi w bulwach

“…Siarka wzmacnia syntezę skrobi w bulwach, jest składnikiem białek i wielu enzymów, ogranicza zawartość azotanów(V) i azotanów(III) oraz cukrów redukujących, co z kolei podwyższa wartość technologiczną ziemniaka [2,50].…”

The Importance of Nutrient Management for Potato Production Part I: Plant Nutrition and Yield

“…Besides, various bacterial and viral diseases affect potato yield and production (Rich 1983). The abiotic stresses that reduce yield include high radiation (Jansen 2002), heat stress (Herman et al 2017), cold stress (Oufir et al 2008) and air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and ozone (Bahl and Kahl 1995). The most important abiotic factor affecting yield and quality is drought stress (Obidiegwu et al 2015).…”

Sulphur as a fertiliser component determining crop yield and quality

“…Sulphur fertilisation induces changes in the content of total sulphur and sulphates in plants. Generally, it increases the content of total sulphur, organic sulphur and sulphates (koter, GrzeSiuk 1966, babucHowSki 1971, uziak, SzymańSka 1979, beNedycka 1983, uziak, SzymańSka 1987, krauze, bowSzyS 2000, PodleśNa 2004, barczak, Nowak 2015. Plants grown under conditions of low sulphur supply without sulphur fertilisation contain low amounts of total sulphur and trace levels of sulphates.…”