Impact of potassium fertilization rates and potassium solubilizing bacteria inoculation on the growth, yield and quality of potato (Solanum Tuberosum L. )‎

Abstract EN

Two field experiments were conducted during the summer seasons of 2016 and 2017 at the Experimental Station Farm; South El- Tahrir; Horticultural Research Station, El- Behiera Governorate.

This investigation aimed to study the effect of bio- fertilizer potassien(Bacillus circulance)in combination with different rates of mineral potassium fertilizer (0, 32, 64 and 96kgK₂O/fed) on the growth, yield and quality characters of potato CV.

Spunta.

Potassium fertilizer at 64 or 96 kgK₂O/fed with application of bio-K fertilizer promoted growth of potato and the highest mean value of plant height, number of leaves plant^-1, foliage fresh weight, leaves fresh weight, foliage dry weight, leaves dry weight, total chlorophyll and enhanced N, P and K uptake, as well as increased tuber weight ton/fed, average tuber weight and improved tubers quality characters expressed as dry matter, protein, starch, and total carbohydrates contents and specific gravity in the two seasons.

It could be concluded that the interaction effect of inoculation potato tuber seeds with bio fertilizer at application of 67% (64 kg K₂O/fed) of the recommended K level (96 kg K₂O fed^-1) increased the productivity of potato tuber and improved tuber quality characteristics, as the same as (96 kg K₂Ofed^-1).

In addition to saving about 33% of potato requirement of K fertilizers and avoid environmental pollution hazards caused by excessive application of chemical fertilizers.