Growth and production of potato mini tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.) in the aeroponic system by root zone treatment and concentration of leaf-fertilizer

Abstract

This study was conducted to increase the growth of potato and its mini tuber yield by root zone treatment and the concentration of leaf-fertilizer in the aeroponics system. This research was done at Experimental Farm of The Agriculture Faculty, Universitas Syiah Kuala from October 2019 until July 2020. There were 2 levels of root zone treatment; control (without cooling) and root zone cooling. Meanwhile the concentration of leaf-fertilizer consists of 5 levels; control, 500 ppm, 1000 ppm, 1500 ppm and 2000 ppm. The results showed that the root zone treatment significantly affected the plant dry weight. The heaviest plant dry weight obtained from the plant grown in root zone cooling treatment. The concentration of leaf-fertilizer very significantly affected the plant dry weight, which the best concentration of 500 ppm produced 751.28 mg plant-dry-weight. There was a very significant effect at a combination of root zone treatment and concentration of leaf-fertilizer on plant dry weight, which the best treatment was found in a combination of root zone cooling and 500 ppm concentration of leaf-fertilizer. The plant with that treatment produced mini tuber, while the others did not.