Effect of Potassium Supply and Water Stress on Potato Drought Tolerance and Water Productivity. Issue 9 (15th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Darwish, T.; Fadel, A.; Chahine, S.; Baydoun, S.; Jomaa, I.; Atallah, T.
• Is Part Of: Communications in soil science and plant analysis. Volume 53:Issue 9(2022)
• Page Start: 1100
• Page End: 1112
• Publication Date: 2022-05-15
• Subjects: Deficit irrigation -- water consumption -- agronomic water yield -- chlorophyll content -- canopy temperature; Soil science -- Periodicals; Plants -- Chemical analysis -- Periodicals; Agricultural chemistry -- Periodicals; 631.405
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2022.2043341
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0010-3624

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of major food crops grown worldwide and in Lebanon. The response of field grown potato to 0, 200, 300 kg of potassium (K) ha −1 was examined under deficit irrigation (imposed water stress). Trials were conducted under Near East-North Africa (NENA) pedo-climatic conditions found in the semiarid central Bekaa of Lebanon. Irrigation water was provided by a drip irrigation system. A mild deficit irrigation, corresponding to 68% of calculated ET0 in 2015 and 85% of it in 2016, was started at the flowering stage and lasted till foliar senescence. Canopy temperature, at maximum development, showed a slight decrease with the increase of potassium levels. During physiological maturity, the midday leaf temperature was significantly lower at the higher K dose, indicating improved leaf water potential. The highest K dose showed a non-significant, higher, chlorophyll content in the leaves, notably in the first year. A significant increase in the weight of one commercial tuber was found in K300 (247.6 g). The commercial yield ranged between 33.05 and 34.78 Mg ha −1 (K300) and 23.31 and 25.53 Mg ha −1 (K0) in 2015 and 2016 respectively. During the 2016 trial, 8 plots out of 16 had an agronomic water yield between 9 and 13 kg.m −3 against 12 out of 16 plots in 2015, competing with the reported values for potato in the region. Optimizing nutrient and water input in the NENA region can contribute to food security with minimal environmental impact.