Organic Fertilization Affects Growth and Yield of Potato (Cara. cv) Plants Grown on Sandy Clay Loam

Abstract

ABSTRACT Utilizing chemical fertilizers in large quantities leads to deterioration of soil health and consequently the quality of the agriculture product. In return, the application of organic wastes helps to maintain good soil microbial population and soil fertility as well as enhance the yield. A field experiment was conducted at Assiut Governorate, Egypt, in seasons of 2017/2018 to investigate the influence of filter mud cake (FMC) either alone or combined with potassium sulfate as a chemical fertilizer (CF) on growth and yield of potato tubers. The results clearly indicated that the plants treated with FMC75+ CF25 treatment gave a significant increase (36.64%) in the plant height. Also, it caused highest increases for N, P and K uptakes by about 4, 7, and 6 times, respectively, compared to the control. However, increase in the total tuber yield (15.10 ton fed-1) was obtained with addition of potassium sulfate while FMC100 recorded 14.73 ton fed−1 compared to the control (5.92 ton fed-1). Although the decrease of the total yield, the FMC25 + CF75 treatment showed the highest relative increase (196.21%) in tuber large-size weight. Moreover, FMC50 + CF50 treatment gave the highest increase (130.62%) in medium-size and FMC100 gave highest increase (124.78%) in small-size over the control. Increasing the medium size (export volume) with adding organic to inorganic fertilizers at ratio of 50: 50 emphasizes the importance of using FMC as an alternative of chemical fertilizers used presence of potassium in the soil in an abundant level.