Different amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash and agronomic traits of potato on two pH levels

Abstract

This experiment was carried out in order to evaluate the effects of different amounts of fertilizer at planting day and the influence of the soil pH on agronomic traits of potato, as well as to compare the kind of fertilization used by potato growers of Santa Catarina State, Brazil, with the one recommended by the official research (ROLAS) in this region. The pH levels tested were 5,5 and 6,0. The amounts of fertilizer employed were 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 ton/ha of the formulation 5-20-10(N-P₂O₅ -K₂O). The increase of the soil pH from 5.5 to 6.0 did not affect tuber yield and components, but promoved greater incidence of Streptomyces scabies symptons in the harvest tubers. The higher tuber yields were achieved with 2.8 and 3.9 ton of 5-20-10 per hectare, for potato seed and potato consumption, respectively. The tuber yield obtained with the application of the fertilizer dosage suggested by the official research was similar to those verified with the fertilization used by potato seed growers of Santa Catarina.