Application of silicon to improve yield and quality of potatoes (Solanum Tuberrosum L.)

Abstract

The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crop serves as a staple food worldwide and is capable of reducing the world’s food shortages because unlike cereals and other agricultural crops, it is less affected by prices in the international markets. Research on alleviation of food crises suggested root and tuber crops such as potatoes to be the solution to the problem of food shortage. The crop is widely cultivated but is difficult to produce due to susceptibility to numerous pests and pathogenic organisms, as well as abiotic stresses. To control these pests and diseases, strategies to limit susceptibility to factors that interfere with the growth and development of plants, or breeding new varieties that are able to withstand stresses are being researched. Recent studies have shown that non essential nutrients such as Silicon (Si) are beneficial to plants in terms of yield, protection from fungal diseases and improved uptake of phosphorus. Since very little research has focused on the role of Si in improving potato production, three glasshouse pot trials were conducted at the Hatfield Experimental farm and Department of Plant Pathology glasshouses of the University of Pretoria to evaluate the effect of various soil amendments on potato yield and quality. The effect of these soil amendments on pH was also investigated as P-uptake and development of common scab in potatoes are pH dependent. The soil amendments consisted of different silicon sources and an agricultural lime. The Si sources were Calmasil slag (Middleburg) (30% Si- containing liming material), fly ash (50% Si nonliming material), and Si fume/ash (99% Si non-liming material). Agricultural lime (CaCO3) was included as a control. The purpose of the first two trials was to identify the most promising silicon-containing source for potato production, while the third trial evaluated the effect of this silicon source on soil pH and potato tuber yield. In all three trials, agricultural lime was used as a control. Due to the high demand for nutrients by the potato crop, other nutrient elements were added to the soil through fertigation every 7 to 14 days, depending on the growth stage of the plants. Plants were irrigated with distilled water when necessary to maintain an adequate moisture level i.e. moist but not too wet. Weekly observations on growth parameters were made. To select the most promising soil amendment, parameters such as leaf chlorophyll content, plant height, tuber number and mass (Fwt), fresh and dry weight (top growth) and change in soil pH were analyzed. Slag treated plants tended to produce tubers with higher mass and better appearance. In this study the highest increase in soil pH was observed in soil mixed with slag, compared to all the other silicon sources. Although there was no significant difference observed among treatments there was a distinct difference in plant growth between trials when soil was amended with lime and slag. Plants treated with slag tended to produce tubers that weigh more, whilst plants treated with lime grew taller and had the highest tuber number. There was a significant rise in soil pH from both lime and slag, which might have in turn influenced vegetative and tuber growth.