Effect of Mineral and Organic Potassium Fertilization on Sweet Potato Crop Grown in The Newly Reclaimed Land

Abd El-Aal, Hala A.; Abo El-Fadl, Nashwa I.; A.M. Moussa, Sameh

doi:10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2010.2321

Effect of Mineral and Organic Potassium Fertilization on Sweet Potato Crop Grown in The Newly Reclaimed Land

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Environmental Studies and Researches Institute, Minufiya University, Sadat Branch, Egypt.

² Sabaheya Hort. Res., Horticultural Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Egypt.

³ Sabaheya Horticultural Research station, Horticultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt.

10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2010.2321

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out during the two successive summer seasons of 2008 and 2009 at a newly reclaimed area, at Sadat city, of the Environmental Studies and Research Institute Farm, Minufiya University, Minufiya Governorate, Egypt. This study was conducted in order to assess the effects of different levels of both potassium sulphate fertilizer (0.0; 50; 100; 150 and 200 Kg/fed.) and potassium humate foliar applications (11% K₂O) rates, i. e. 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%; as well as their interactions on the vegetative growth, yield and its components, tuber characteristics and tuber quality attributes of sweet potato crop. Potassium sulphate fertilizer affected significantly most studied traits. Generally, the increased potassium sulphate fertilization levels, from zero up to 200 Kg/fed., enhanced vegetative growth and, gradually, increased tuber root yield. The obtained results indicated that 200 Kg potassium sulphate fertilizer/fed. was the best level to increase total tuber yield. A similar trend was reached by spraying K-humate levels. Increasing potassium humate concentration from 0.0% to 1.5% increased most of the studied characters. The combined application of K₂SO₄ fertilizer levels and K-humate sprays reflected clear interaction effects. Tuber root yield reflected an increase of 10% - 15% by adding 200 Kg K₂SO₄/fed. combined with 1.5% K-humate compared with the control treatment (200 Kg K₂SO₄/ fed. only) in the first and the second seasons of the study, respectively. Generally, this study recommended spraying sweet potato fields, fertilized with 150 Kg K₂SO₄, with potassium humate to produce the highest tuber yield with the best quality.

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