Two field trials were conducted on potato plants cv. Spunta, in the vegetable private farm at Kafr Meet Faris, Dakahlia Governorate, during 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 seasons to study the effect of some organic fertilization sources, either single and/or in combination with micronutrients application methods on plant growth, yield and its components, as well as chemical constituents and storability of tubers.
In general, results showed that the plants fertilized by organic fertilization sources were better than those of the unfertilized ones. Fertilization with poultry manure (PM) followed by 50% FYM + 50% PM significantly increased plant stem length, number of leaves, leaf area and foliage dry weight as well as total yield, number of tubers/plant and average of tuber weight, Moreover, application PM significantly increased TSS%, ascorbic acid, concentrations of (N, P & K), micronutrients (Fe, Zn & Mn), starch% and reducing sugars in tubers. While, non-reducing sugars was not affected. This source of organic fertilization (PM) had the most interesting observation was the enhancing of storability and reducing sprouting% at the end of storage period. Also, foliar application method of micronutrients caused significant increases in the most studied parameters as comparing with those of the other treatments. However, weight loss percent of tubers and sprouting% was significantly reduced during and at the end of storage period.
The combined treatments of organic fertilization sources and micronutrients application methods were generally more effective on the most studied parameters than with single ones. The best results were obtained by PM with foliar application method of micronutrients. This treatment achieved increases in vegetative growth characters, total tubers yield (tons/fed), number of tubers/plant, average of tuber weight, tuber dry weight%, T.S.S% of tuber, concentrations of N, P, K, micronutrients (Fe, Zn and Mn), ascorbic acid, starch%, reducing sugars in tubers and enhanced the tubers storability comparing with the other ones.
Therefore, this treatment could be recommended for raising potato yield and improving tuber quality during the storage period under similar conditions to this work.