Acúmulo de nutrientes, produtividade e qualidade de batata, cv. Asterix, sob fontes de fertilizantes potássicos

Abstract

The high demand and response of potatoes to the addition of nutrients to the soil provides attention to relevant aspects related to fertility (application, quantity, sources). Adequate fertilization allows a balance between soil and plant nutrients, resulting in excellent returns for farmers and better quality produce for consumers. This study evaluated the development, productivity and quality of potato tubers, cultivar Asterix, after the application of two sources of potassium fertilizers and their combinations (KCl and K2SO4.2MgSO4), as well as nutrient absorption and nutritional diagnosis. The experiment was conducted in the county of Perdizes (MG). The experimental design was a randomized block with nine treatments and four replications as a split plot factorial. Plots were the treatments while subplots were plant sampling dates (biweekly). The amount of nutrients (N, P and K) used was based on physical and chemical analyses of soil and crop demand. Ninety quilograms of N, 180 kg of K2O and 750 kg of P2O5 were applied per hectare. Treatments consisted of application of the K2O dose in combinations of two sources of potassium fertilizer (KCl and K2SO4.2MgSO4). In general, the combination of sources of potassium fertilizers favors the accumulation of dry leaf, stem and tuber matter, with a quadratic response for leaves and stems and linear for tubers. Some proportions between the sources favored the accumulation of K in leaves and stems; however, these were not different from the application of each source alone. There was a gradual accumulation increase in the tubers during the crop cycle, with the greatest accumulations when the fertilizer proportions of the two sources of fertilizer were applied. The application of 100% of the fertilizer as KCl showed greater Cl accumulation in leaves, stems and tubers; however, not different from some combinations with K2SO4.2MgSO4. The order of deficiency obtained from the DRIS, in areas of high and low productivity were, respectively: Mn> Zn> P> Cu> K> Mg> Fe> B> N> S> Ca and Mg> Zn> K> Mn > Ca> P> B> S> Cu> N> Fe, whereas the order of excess were P> Fe> Mg> Zn> Mn> B> Ca> O> N> Cu> K and Cu> Zn> Fe> B> N> S> Mg> P> Mn> K> Ca. The nutritional unbalances obtained by IBN showed that soil nutrient levels should be monitored, looking for the improvement in nutrient dynamics along the successive crops. Productivity, percentage of soluble solids, total sugars, reducing sugars, starch, tuber dry matter, moisture and ash contents did not differ between sources of potassium fertilizers: KCl and K2SO4.2MgSO4 and their combinations, for cv. Asterix at the dose of 180 kg K2O ha-1, possibly because the amount applied was not sufficient to reflect the potential deleterious effects of chlorine.