Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.,24 (1) : ( 48-54) 2011
Effect of potassium on yield and processing quality attributes of potato
S. K. BANSAL1 AND S.P. TREHAN2
1
Potash Research Institute of India, Gurgaon - 122 016, Haryana, India
2
Central Potato Research Station, Jalandhar, Punjab, India
Email: [email protected]
(Received: October, 2010)
Abstract: The productivity of potato in India is very poor at about 18 t/ha as compared to more than 45 t/ha in Europe. Low
use of fertilizers and severely imbalanced use of N, P and K fertilizers are some of the reasons considered responsible for low
production of potato. Potato crop is a heavy remover of soil potassium and removes 1.5 times the amount of nitrogen and
4-5 times the amount of phosphate. In India, a review of many field experiments conducted by PRII and CPRI on response
of potato to potassium application revealed a yield increase between 1.0 t ha-1 and 5.2 t ha-1 at different sites. There was less
weight loss and rottage of tubers with potassium application. Results of many experiments indicate that potassium nutrition
influences tuber size, dry matter content, susceptibility to black spot bruise, after-cooking darkening, reducing sugar content,
fry colour and storage quality. Considering the fact that tuber quality parameter are related to variety, to tuber maturity,
growth and site conditions, water uptake and others, making of general recommendations on the optimal K fertilizer use is a
complicated issue. Potassium application is reported to increase the size of tubers, especially, if K supply of the soil is low
to medium. High K concentrations of above 2 % in tuber dry matter due to an over supply with potassium may lower the
contents of dry matter. Potassium chloride seems more detrimental in reducing dry matter content of tubers and thus tuber
quality for processing into chips and French fries. In most experiments, starch content in tubers was positively correlated to
potassium application. About 1.8 % K in tuber dry matter is reported to be necessary for high starch concentration. Plants
treated with K2SO4 translocated more photosynthates from the leaves and stems to the tubers compared with plants treated
with KCl. Generally, K application decreased reducing sugars and lighten chip colour under low K nutrition levels. Though
superiority of sulphate form of potassium has been established over the chloride form for processing tubers, it needs more
detailed evaluation of the published data and also more specific and systematic studies under different climatic and varietal
conditions to formulate the general potassium fertilizer recommendations.
Key words: Potato, low productivity, heavy K feeder, potato yield and quality, sulphate of potash
Potato is one of the most important and widely cultivated
rabi vegetable crops of India. India ranks third in area and
fourth in total potato production of the world. The increase in
potato production in India has been very impressive by about
900 % during the last 50 years. The major increase in production
resulted from extension of the crop area to non-traditional areas
like Punjab, Haryana, West Bengal, M.P. and by improvement in
potato varieties, seed quality and better management of crop
nutrition, pest and diseases and irrigation facilities.
However, the potato productivity in India is still very poor
at about 18 t/ha as compared to about 45 t/ha in many countries
of Europe and U.S.A. (Table 1).
Moreover, within the country, there is a lot of heterogeneity
in potato productivity depending upon mostly on nutritional
management and climatic conditions (Table 2). For example, Bihar
is the 3rd largest potato growing and producing state of India
accounting for nearly 9.8% of total potato area and 4.2% of the
total potato production in the country, but with very poor
productivity of 7.89 t/ha as compared to comparatively quite
high productivity realized in the two neighboring states of Uttar
Pradesh (21.97 t/ha) and West Bengal (24.7 t/ha). Similarly,
productivity is very poor in Karnataka state as the climate is not
very favourable for growing potato. However, low use of
fertilizers and severely imbalanced use of N, P and K fertilizers
are some of the reasons responsible for low production of potato
in many parts of the country.
Table 1. Top potato producers in the world during 2007-08
Country
Total Production
Productivity
(tonnes)
(t/ha)
1. China
72, 040 000
12.67
2. Russian Fed.
36, 784 200
12.90
3. India
26, 280 000
17.85
4. United States
20, 373 267
44.59
5. Ukraine
19, 102 300
13.14
6. Poland
11, 791 072
20.70
7. Germany
11, 643 769
42.35
8. Belarus
8, 743 976
21.19
9. Netherlands
7, 200 000
44.72
10. France
6, 271 000
45.37
(Source: Anon., 2008(a))
Table 2. Top potato producing states in India during 2007-08
Country
Area
Total Production Productivity
(‘000ha)
( ‘000 t)
(t/ha)
1. Uttar Pradesh
505
11,095
21.97
2. West Bengal
401
9,900
24.70
3.Gujarat
72
1,796
24.94
4. Punjab
79
1,473
18.70
5. Bihar
152
1,203
7.89
6. M.P.
45
570
12.50
7. Assam
75
521
6.95
8. Haryana
20
352
17.70
9. Karnataka
60
257
4.28
10. Jharkhand
16
196
12.01
(Source: Anon., 2008 (b))
Introduction
48
Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.,24 (1) : 2011
Moreover, the per capita potato consumption at 17 kg/year
is also very low in India as compared to more than 100 kg/year in
many countries of Europe and erstwhile Russian federation,
due to poor processing facilities in India. In the present paper,
field experimental data on the responses of potato yield and
tuber quality to K fertilizer application and type of K fertilizer
has been analysed. The analysis was aimed to contribute to
improve the identification of optimum K fertilizing practices for
production of potato tubers used for processing into chips and
French fries in India.
of K in potato ranges between 50-60 per cent. As such potato
invariably responds to potassium application in various kinds
of soil and agro-climatic conditions in which it is grown.
Application of K increases plant height, crop vigor and impart
resistance against drought, frost and diseases. Potassium
increases leaf expansion particularly at early stages of growth,
extends leaf area duration by delaying leaf shedding near
maturity. It increases both the rate and duration of tuber bulking.
Its application activates number of enzymes involved in
photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism and proteins and
assists in the translocation of carbohydrates from leaves to
tubers (Imas and Bansal, 1999). Potassium increases the size of
tubers and not the number (Trehan et al., 2001). So, it increases
the yield by increasing the number and yield of large sized tubers.
In a recent field trial conducted at CPRS, Patna during 2009-10
on Kufri Pukhraj variety of potato, application of 100 kg K2O/
ha as MOP significantly increased number as well as tuber yield
of large (>75g) and medium-large(50-75g) tubers which resulted
in increase in overall tuber yield as well as the marketable yield
(Table 3).
Impact of potassium fertilization on tuber yield
Potato has shallow root system compared to other crops
limiting its foraging capacity in the soil. On the other hand,
uptake of fertilizer nutrients (NPK) by potato per unit area and
time is quite high due to fast rate of early growth and tuber
bulking (Singh et al., 1997). Potato is less efficient user of
potassium than other crops (Trehan and Claassen, 2000). A
healthy crop of potato removes about 170-230 kg K 2O/ha
indicating that potato needs of K are much higher than that of
cereals. Being a shallow rooted crop, the fertilizer use efficiency
Table 3. Grade wise potato yield and tuber population of Kufri Pukhraj as influenced by potassium application at Patna during 2009-10
Treat
-ment
Grade wise Tuber yield (q/ha)
K0
K 50
K 100
K 150
SEm ±
CD
(P=0.05)
Grade wise Tuber population( ’000 /ha)
>75g
95.42
50-75g
108.18
25-50g
58.07
<25g
15.54
Total
277.21
>75g
84.11
50-75g
153.47
25-50g
143.99
<25g
142.84
Total
524.42
Average
tuber
weight (g)
52.53
140.68
158.73
169.54
5.84
16.83
131.09
145.34
152.42
3.98
11.45
46.36
43.88
42.12
3.65
10.51
15.89
13.90
13.64
3.12
NS
334.02
361.85
377.71
8.49
24.43
89.89
97.27
102.30
2.89
8.32
177.52
191.96
200.83
4.59
13.21
134.69
136.67
119.25
4.03
11.60
136.59
122.87
115.76
4.28
12.32
538.68
548.77
538.13
4.22
12.14
61.52
65.52
69.88
2.15
6.20
(Source: Singh, 2010)
Soil type and agro-climatic zones
high organic carbon and low pH. In North-Western hills mean
optimum requirement is 100 kg K2O /ha with likely response of
64 q/ha (Table 4). Corresponding value for North Eastern hills is
130 kg K2O /ha with likely response of 64 q/ha. In Nilgiri hills,
optimum dose was 110 kg K2O /ha with likely response of 38 q/
ha.
Large numbers of trials were conducted in different potato
growing agro-climatic zones in India (Grewal et al., 1991). The
optimum rate of K fertilization in different zones based on tuber
yield response in these trials is given in Table 4. The mean
response to optimum dose of K fertilizer was 51 q/ha (Table 4).
Processing varieties of potato Kufri Chipsona 1 and Kufri
Chipsona 3 and the likes grown specifically to produce large
processing grade tubers require higher rate of K fertilization for
by 33 to 50% than recommended. Potato growing alluvial soils
in Indo-Gangetic plains are mostly coarse in texture, low in
organic carbon and neutral to alkaline in pH. In North-Western
plains the mean optimum requirement is 120 kg K2O/ha with
likely response of 57 q/ha (Table 4). Corresponding value in
Western and Central Gangetic plain is 120 kg K2O /ha with likely
response of 34 q/ha. In Eastern Gangetic plains requirement of
K is highest to the extent of 160 kg K2O /ha with likely response
of 67 q/ha. In plateau region potato is grown in black cotton and
red soils mostly as rainfed crop. The mean optimum requirement
in these soils is 110 kg K2O /ha with likely response of 36 q/ha
(Table 5). Potato growing acidic hill soils are characterized by
Table 4. Optimum potassium requirement of potato crop in different
potato growing zones of India
Potato growing zones
Potassium (K2O)
Rate (kg/ha) Response (q/ha)
North-western plains
120
57
West-central plains
120
34
North-eastern plains
160
67
Plateau region
110
36
North-western hills
100
64
North-eastern hills
130
64
SWB* hills
110
52
Southern hills
110
38
Mean
120
51
* Sikkim and West Bengal hills
49
Effect of potassium on yield and processing....
Potato variety
cv. Kufri Pukhraj produced yield of 364 q/ha without K, whereas
Kufri Badshah and Kufri Sutlej needed 80 kg K2O /ha to produce
yield of 361 and 370 q/ha, respectively in the same field.
Field experiments conducted by Moinuddin et al. (2003) at
PRII, Gurgaon for 3 years indicated that different varieties
responded differently to applied potassium, while Kufri Satluj,
Kufri Badshah and Kufri Bahar responded upto 150kg K2O/ha
applied K, but Kufri Kuber responded upto 75 kg K2O/ha only
and moreover the magnitude of response was much higher in
Kufri Satluj and Kufri Badshah than in Kufri Bahar (Table 5).
Kufri Kuber turned out be the least responsive to applied K as
it was also the poorest yielder among all the 4 varieties. Moreover,
K application increased yield of large grade tubers in Kufri Satluj
and Kufri Badshah than in Kufri Bahar and Kufri Kuber. Bulk
of tubers in Kufri Kuber was of medium and small grade tubers,
perhaps the reason for least response to potassium as this variety
didn’t respond to K for tuber bulking. Response to applied K of
more than 150 kg/ha was not observed though uptake of
potassium continued by the crop beyond this level indicating a
luxury consumption of K. Thus, it can be concluded that varieties
behave differentially towards K requirement for their response
to K application and selection of K dose should be on variety
basis in addition to soil test value.
Potato response to applied K is considerably influenced by
the variety grown (Trehan, 2007). The low response in some
varieties to K is attributed to their capability in utilizing more K
from the soil source. The varietal response to applied K is often
related to its yield potential and number of large sized tubers it
can produce. In general, rapid bulking potato varieties producing
large size tubers respond more to K than the varieties with small
number sized tubers as application of K is known to increase
the tuber size (Trehan and Grewal, 1990). Kufri Jyoti was more
responsive to K than Kufri Chandramukhi in plains of West
Bengal (Dasmahapatra et.al., 1984). Results of field experiment
conducted at Central Potato Research Station, Jalandhar, Punjab
showed wide variation in the potassium efficiency of different
potato cultivars (Trehan, 2007). The cv. Kufri Pukhraj was the
most K efficient followed by Kufri Sutlej, Kufri Badshah, Kufri
Bahar, Kufri Sindhuri, Kufri Ashoka, , Kufri Jawahar, Kufri
Jyoti, Kufri Lalima and Kufri Chandramukhi based on tuber
yield without potassium application and with potassium fertilizer
required to produce maximum achievable fixed yield. The
potassium efficient cultivars gave higher tuber yield with less
dose of K fertilizer than less efficient cultivars. Most K efficient
Table 5. Effect of potassium levels on aggregate and grade-wise tuber yield (t ha-1) of different varieties of potato at harvest Gurgaon, Haryana
Potassium Applied
(kg K2O ha-1)
K. Satluj
Varieties
K. Badshah
Mean
K. Bahar
Aggregate
13.22
12.86
22.95
20.50
26.79
24.15
27.01
25.21
22.49
20.68
K = 1.209
K x V = 2.417
Large grade (>75 g)
0
6.61
6.57
5.30
75
15.62
12.28
8.61
150
19.05
14.50
10.50
225
20.25
15.03
11.11
Mean
15.38
12.09
8.88
LSD p<0.05
K = 0.566
V = 0.635
K x V = 1.138
Medium grade (30-75 g)
0
3.86
4.93
5.58
75
9.03
9.00
10.30
150
10.78
10.62
12.29
225
11.45
10.78
12.95
Mean
8.78
8.83
10.28
LSD p<0.05
K = 0.590
V = 0.701
K x V = 1.183
Small grade (<30 g)
0
0.82
1.72
1.98
75
0.71
1.67
1.59
150
0.45
1.67
1.36
225
0.26
1.28
1.15
Mean
0.56
1.58
1.52
LSD p<0.05
K = 0.375
V = 0.352
K x V = NS
NS – Non Significant; K – Potassium Levels; V – Varieties; K x V – Interaction
0
75
150
225
Mean
LSD p<0.05
11.29
25.36
30.28
31.96
24.72
V = 1.513
50
K. Kuber
11.33
16.25
18.14
18.54
16.06
12.17
21.26
24.84
25.68
2.02
4.06
4.94
5.26
4.07
5.12
10.14
12.25
12.91
6.50
9.51
16.00
11.30
10.83
5.21
9.46
12.42
11.62
2.81
2.68
2.20
1.98
2.42
1.83
1.66
1.42
1.17
Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.,24 (1) : 2011
Type of potassium fertilizer and crop yield
K2O/ha), the frost damage to the foliage of potato crop was
scored visually and the data, thus obtained is shown as Fig. 1.
The frost damaged was scored in numbers 0 to 10, the damage
being increased with increasing numbers. Thus, zero score means
no damage and 10 score means the highest damage. The results
indicated that frost damage decreased with the increase in K
fertilizer dose, with 0 and 225 kg K2O/ha showing minimum and
maximum frost damage, respectively. K. Satluj was more prone
to frost damage than other varieties. Earlier Grewal and Singh
(1980) had observed a negative correlation between K content
of potato leaves and frost damage, the potato plants with higher
K content showed less frost damage. In north western hills,
under long day and rainfed conditions, K application protected
the crop from moisture stress at early stages of crop growth.
Several potassium fertilizers have been tried in potato crop,
but among these potassium chloride (60% K2O) and potassium
sulphate (50% K2O) have been studied in depth in various agro
climatic regions. Response in potato tuber yield to applied MOP
or SOP has been observed to be site specific depending upon
the soil fertility conditions and crop variety grown (Bansal and
Umar, 1998). The potassium chloride (MOP) is commonly used
in potato crop and constitutes 97% of potassium fertilizers
consumption in potato crop. However, in sulphur deficient soils,
SOP was found to be more effective in enhancing tuber yield
because of sulphur present in it. Field trials conducted on potato
(Kufri Bahar) by Bansal (2003) at PRII, Gurgaon on a sandy loam
soil, low in S, but medium in K fertility, SOP gave much higher
tuber yield than applied MOP (Table 6). Response to applied K
through SOP was much higher than through MOP when both N
and K were applied at higher dose. In the same experiment,
application of ammonium sulphate with MOP was found to be
equally effective as urea with SOP indicating no effect of S
source used (Table 7). Another potassium fertilizer i.e. potassium
schoenite, an indigenous source having double salt of potassium
and magnesium sulphate has also been found to be equally
good for potato in acidic and alluvial soils (Sharma et al., 1998).
Potassium and keeping quality of potato under ordinary storage
80 DAP
Potassium and frost damage in potato
Table 6. Effect of type of K fertilizer on tuber yield of Kufri
potato at PRII, Gurgaon (mean of 2 years)
Fertilizer
Amount of nutrients applied (kg/ha)
Treatment N100K0 N100K100 Per cent N200K0 N200K200
Response
over
control
NP
13.91
15.34
(Control)
NP+K
15.06 8.31
16.78 9.32
through
MOP
NP+K
15.93
14.50
20.42
through
SOP
Bahar
110 DAP
Per cent
Response
over
control
32.52
Fig. 1. Effect of K application (0, 75, 150 and 225 kg K2O/ha) on frost
damage score in potato
Table 7. Effect of different sources of fertilizers on tuber yield (t/ha)
of potato variety Kufri Bahar at PRII, Gurgaon (mean of 2
years)
Treatment
Amount of K2O applied (kg/ha)
(Fertilizers used for
applying NPK)
0
60
120
180
MOP+ Urea+DAP
14.31 16.50 18.09
18.75
MOP+Amm. Sulphate+DAP
19.18
21.61
SOP+Urea+DAP
19.15
22.25
condition
Storage studies conducted at PRII, Gurgaon and CPRS, Patna
revealed that there was less weight loss and rottage of tubers
with potassium application, where as there was increase in weight
loss due to tuber rottage with increase in nitrogen levels under
ordinary storage condition at ambient temperature (Table 8).
In a study, medium sized potato tuber weighing 5 kg was
used for keeping quality assessment stored at ambient
temperature at CPRS, Patna. The produce of experiment was
kept for storage studies after 15-20 days of curing in heaps after
the harvest. The produce was stored for 90 days at ambient
temperature. The tubers were stored from 1.4.2010 to 30.6.2010.
Periodic observations were recorded on tuber rottage and fresh
In north-western plain, potassium plays an active role to
protect crop as the crop is prone to frost. In field experiments
conducted in Rabi 2001-2002 at PRII, Gurgaon, four potato
varieties were tested with four K doses (0, 75, 150 and 225 kg
51
Effect of potassium on yield and processing....
Table 8. Effect of K application on storage losses of k. Pukhraj potato at Patna
Treatment
Initial
Final weight
Weight loss
weight (kg)
of healthy
( Kg)
tubers (kg)
Nitrogen levels
N0
5.000
3.558
1.442
N 75
5.000
3.535
1.465
N 150
5.000
3.335
1.666
N 225
5.000
3.331
1.670
Per cent
total weigh
t loss
Weight of
rotted
tubers (Kg)
Per cent
rottage loss
28.85
29.30
33.31
33.39
0.809
0.835
0.956
0.963
16.18
16.70
19.12
19.26
Potassium levels
K0
5.000
3.208
1.792
35.85
1.272
25.44
K 50
K 100
K 150
5.000
5.000
5.000
3.401
3.513
3.636
1.599
1.487
1.364
31.99
29.74
27.28
0.947
0.812
0.696
18.94
16.23
13.92
tuber weight.The data revealed that there was less weight loss
and rottage of tubers with potassium application, where as there
was increase in weight loss due to tuber rottage with increase in
nitrogen levels under ordinary storage condition at ambient
temperature.
found to reduce the deformities and improve percentage of
processing grade tubers as compared to the MOP application
(Table 10). Potassium sulphate also resulted in low levels of
sucrose content in tubers before and after storage at 10 deg. C
after using CIPC.
Field experiments conducted by (Anon., 2000) on potato
variety Kufri Bahar for 2 years conducted at PRII, Gurgaon also
indicated that K application improved the dry matter content of
tubers, which is highly essential for processing into chips and
fries (Fig. 2). SOP was found to be better as compared to MOP in
this respect. Further, it was observed that SOP application also
helped in decreasing the content of reducing sugars in the tubers
which in-turn improved the chip quality as higher content of
reducing sugars leads to browning of chips on frying. Field
trials at Meerut by (Anon., 2005) also indicated that K application
through SOP improved specific gravity, chip colour score and
decreasing the reducing sugars content of 4 processing grade
potato varieties (Table 11).
However, available experimental results don't allow clear
conclusion on the effect of K fertilizer use (optimal K rate and K
form) on tuber quality parameter relevant for processing i. e.
tuber size, dry matter content and accumulation of reducing
Potassium and potato tuber processing quality
The crucial importance of potassium in quality formation is
related to its role in promoting synthesis of photosynthates in
potato leaves and their transport to the tubers and to enhance
their conversion into starch, protein and vitamins, hence overall
tuber bulking and tuber composition depend on K nutrition. In
the year 2007-08, Indian farmers produced about 34 million tonnes
potatoes, but only less than 1% of the harvested potato tubers
have been used for processing. In Germany the share of the
total potato harvest absorbed as raw material for industrial
purposes amounts to about 57%. In India, a strong growth of
potato processing industry is needed to make better use of the
harvests. However, manufacturers need tubers meeting quality
standards strongly related to the specific type of utilization as
there are: table potatoes (mostly for cooking), dehydrated
potatoes, French fries, potato chips, potatoes for starch
separation and others. For all of the different ranges of potato
use, important external quality criteria are: tuber size, tuber
grading, tuber shape, tuber peel (colour, firmness), damages
and outer defects. Some of the internal quality criteria are given
in Table 9.
Results of many experiments indicate that potassium
Table 9. Range of tuber dry matter content demand and acceptable
levels of reducing sugars in tubers for processing
Product
Dry matter content
Acceptable
(%)
reducing sugar content
(mg/100 g FM)
Potato chips
22 - 26
15
French fries
22 - 24
25
Dehydrated potatoes
22 - 26
25
nutrition influences tuber size, dry matter content, susceptibility
to black spot bruise, after-cooking darkening, reducing sugar
content, fry colour and storage quality. In field trials conducted
at Meerut on four processing grade varieties for 2 years, (Anon.,
2005) found that application of 100 kg K2O though SOP was
Fig. 2. Effect of MOP and SOP application on dry matter content of
potato tubers (Kufri Bahar) at PRII, Gurgaon
52
Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.,24 (1) : 2011
Table 10. Effect of MOP and SOP on different processing grade varieties of potato at Meerut (Average of 2 years, 2003-04 and 2004-05)
K applied as MOP (100 kg K2O/ha)
Variety
Deformed
Undersized
Processing grade
Sucrose before
Sucrose after
(t/ha)
(t/ha)
(t/ha)
ATL
3.65
2.82
22.20
storage
(mg/100gm of
fresh wt.)
210.76
6 months storage
(mg/100gm of
fresh wt.)
374.25
FL - 1533
Chipsona I
Chipsona II
4.50
3.52
13.88
3.40
7.60
7.77
18.40
9.25
9.77
141.95
126.93
142.52
285.81
348.90
322.60
K applied as SOP (100 kg K2O/ha)
Variety
ATL
FL - 1533
Chipsona I
Chipsona II
Deformed
Undersized
Processing grade
Sucrose before
Sucrose after
(t/ha)
(t/ha)
(t/ha)
3.12
3.52
2.48
7.57
1.17
1.57
4.95
3.82
21.80
18.90
12.47
17.75
storage
(mg/100gm of
fresh wt.)
88.91
85.88
124.42
61.25
6 months storage
(mg/100gm of
fresh wt.)
274.24
235.00
322.15
312.00
(Source: Anon.,2005)
1. Potassium application increases the size of tubers,
especially, if K supply of the soil is low to medium. Larger tubers
are preferred by the processing industry, thus the profitability
for the potato grower will be higher.
2. If there is a yield response to potash application, K use
can increase tuber dry matter. This is more pronounced if the
sulphate form (SOP) is used.
3. High K concentrations of above 2 % in tuber dry matter
due to an over supply with potassium may lower the contents
of dry matter. Potassium chloride seems more detrimental in
reducing dry matter content of tubers and thus, tuber quality
for processing into chips and French fries.
4. In most experiments starch content in tubers was positively
correlated to potassium application. 1.8 % K in tuber dry matter
is reported to be necessary for high starch concentration.
Plants treated with K2SO4 translocated more photosynthates
from the leaves and stems to the tubers compared with plants
treated with KCl.
5. Generally, K application decreased reducing sugars and
lighten chip colour under low K nutrition levels.
6. Results of several experiments analyzed demonstrate that
the use of K2SO4 improves quality parameters of tubers for
processing under a wide range of site and agronomic
management conditions and is superior to the chloride form.
Though superiority of sulphate form of potassium has been
established over the chloride form for processing tubers, it needs
more detailed evaluation of the published data and also more
specific and systematic studies under different climatic and
varietal conditions to formulate the general potassium fertilizer
recommendations.
Table 11. Effect of K application on processing quality parameters
of potato tubers (Mean of 2 years) at Meerut
Potato variety
Amount of K2O (kg/ha) applied as SOP
0
100
200
Specific gravity of tubers (g/ml)
ATL
FL-1533
Chipsona-1
Chipsona-2
1.081
1.084
1.079
1.080
1.083
1.084
1.084
1.088
Reducing sugars content (mg/100g)
1.100
1.087
1.086
1.087
ATL
FL-1533
Chipsona-1
Chipsona-2
30.17
28.17
37.36
36.08
Chip color score
28.11
28.03
32.13
30.18
ATL
FL-1533
Chipsona-1
Chipsona-2
4.0
6.0
3.3
3.5
28.1
28.16
35.25
30.76
3.5
2.5
5.5
4.0
3.0
3.0
3.2
2.5
(Source: Anon.,2005)
sugars. It needs more detailed evaluation of the published
findings.
Considering the fact that tuber quality parameter are related
to variety, to tuber maturity, growth and site conditions, water
uptake and others, making of general recommendations on the
optimal K fertilizer use is a complicated issue. However, the
following conclusions can still be drawn from the existing
information:
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