Iron and manganese content and uptake with the yield of potato tubers as affected by herbicides and biostimulants, and potato tuber nutritional value

Abstract

The study material consisted of table potato tubers produced in a three-year field experiment. The following factors were examined: three potato cultivars – Bartek, Gawin and Honorata, five herbicide application methods: herbicides alone (Harrier 295 ZC and Sencor 70 WG) and mixed with growth regulators (Harrier 295 ZC + Kelpak SL, Sencor 70 WG + Asahi SL), and a control unit where weeds were mechanically controlled. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of herbicides and their mixtures with growth regulators on potato tuber nutritive value as well as iron and manganese contents and uptake with the yield of potato tubers. Iron and manganese contents of tubers and uptake with tuber yield were significantly affected by cultivars, herbicides and biostimulants applied as well as weather conditions during the growing season. The herbicides and biostimulants increased iron and manganese contents and uptake with the yield of potato tubers compared with control tubers. The highest amounts of the examined microelements were accumulated by cv. Honorata compared with cv. Bartek and Gawin. Consumption of 100 g potato tubers in 9 and 21% satisfied the daily requirement for iron and manganese, the daily requirements in the human diet being 14.0 and 2.0 mg, respectively.