An Attempt to Reduce the Use of Potassium Fertilization in Jerusalem Artichoke Plants in Clay Soil

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at the Experimental Farm of El-Gemmeiza, Agric. Res. Station, El-Gharbeya Governorate, Egypt , during 2019 and 2020 summer seasons,to study the effects of different rates of potassium treatments at 48, 72 and 96 kg/fad. K2O as soil application and K2O concentration treatments at 0,0.5 and 1.0% as foliar application and their interactions on growth, yield and tuber quality of Jerusalem artichoke Fuseau cultivarunder clay soil.The interaction treatments of fertilizing Jerusalem artichoke with K2O at 72 kg /fad. as soil application (SA) and spraying plants with K2O at 1 % four times at 75, 90,105 and 120 days after planting had significantly increased on plant height , number of branches /plant,both fresh and dry weight of shoots/plant, N,P and K contents in shoots and its uptake, average tuber weight , yield / plant and total yield/faddan .While,the interaction treatment between K2O at 96 kg /fad. as soil application and spraying plants with K2O at 1% reflected a significant effect and increased total carbohydrates , inulin,K and dry matter percentages in tuber at harvest time compared with plants received K2O at 48 kg /fad. as SA only in both seasons. Finally, under the same conditions, fertilizing Jerusalem artichoke with K2O at72 kg/fad. as soil application and spraying plants with K2O at 1% reduced the using of potassium fertilizer by 25% and increases in total yield about 9.89 and 6.91 % over fertilizing with 96 kg /fad. K2O only in the 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively.