Optimizing Nitrogen Fertilization to Improve Qualitative Performances and Physiological and Yield Responses of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Abstract

Potato is often produced by adopting high nitrogen (N) external inputs to maximize its yield, although the possible agronomic and qualitative benefits of a N over-fertilization to the crop are scarcely demonstrated. Therefore, our aim was to determine, over two years, the effect of three N fertilization rates (0, 140 and 280 kg ha −1 , referred to as N0, N140 and N280) simultaneously on the crop physiology, yield components, N use efficiency and tuber chemical composition of cv. Bellini. Throughout the field monitoring, our data highlighted that N140 provided an improvement of the crop physiology, as expressed in terms of leaf photosynthesis rate and Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) readings, than the other N fertilization rates. In addition, regardless of year and as compared to N0 and N280, the supply of 140 kg N ha −1 also ensured the highest yield and an intermediate value of the nitrogen use efficiency (59.1 t ha −1 and 37.1 kg tuber dry weight kg N −1 , respectively), together with nutritionally relevant tuber qualitative traits, i.e. high levels of dry matter, starch (by an enzymatic/spectrophotometric method), total polyphenols (by Folin-Ciocalteu assay) and ascorbic acid [by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis], and a low nitrate amount (by an ion-selective electrode method) (16.6%, 634-3.31-0.61 and 0.93 g kg −1 of dry matter, respectively). Therefore, although a certain interaction between N fertilization rate and year was observed, our findings demonstrated that a conventional N fertilization rate (280 kg ha −1 ) is unnecessary from both agronomic and qualitative standpoints. This is of considerable importance in the perspective to both limit environmental pollution and improve growers' profits by limiting N external inputs to potato crops.

Performance of conventional and enhanced‐efficiency nitrogen fertilizers on potato tuber mineral composition and marketability

“…It has been reported that potato tuber mineral composition is significantly affected by N fertilizer management 5 . The N fertilizer management is critical for better marketable tuber yield, as well as marketable attributes such as specific gravity, total soluble solids and starch in potatoes 31‐33 . The present study demonstrated that N sources have specific positive effects on tuber quality.…”

Plant Biostimulants in Sustainable Potato Production: an Overview

“…For many years, research efforts on potato production have focused on increasing yield disregarding important factors such as the use of resources and the environmental impact of these agricultural practices (Bulgari et al 2015). The main objective of modern agriculture, however, is reducing the environmental impact derived from potato-management practices while ensuring high and stable yield and high tuber quality (Lombardo et al 2020). Tuber quality is determined by marketable size, shape, absence of defects, flavour, colour, nutritional composition (vitamin C, protein and beneficial elements) and the texture of cooked or processed tubers (Stark et al 2020).…”

Productive and Physiological Response of Organic Potato Grown under Highly Calcareous Soils to Fertilization and Mycorrhization Management

“…A reasonable agronomic measure for enhancing early potato organic production is represented by an adequate nutrient management [27] and an improvement of fertilization use efficiency [28]. Particularly, this may be achievable by applying arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), obligate symbionts of the vast majority of land plants [29].…”