Agro-Physiological Traits of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Agria) Affected Different Rate of Zeolite and Triple Super Phosphate

Abstract

The application of zeolite to soils increases cation exchange capacity, and as increases nutrient retention capacity. Imbalanced nutrient management is one of the reasons responsible for low yield of potato in Iran. This study was carried out in research field of Islamic Azad University; Arak Branch at central of Iran to evaluate effect of zeolite particles and phosphorus fertilizer on agro-physiological traits of potato via factorial arrangement based on randomized complete block design with three replications in 2011. The factors included four concentration of zeolite particles (0, 2, 4 and 6 t.ha^-1) and three level of triple super phosphate fertilizer (75, 150 and 225 kg.ha^-1). Result of analysis of variance indicated effect of different rate of zeolite on all measured traits (instead tuber dry weight) was significant, also chemical phosphorus treatment can affected the mean tuber weight, biomass yield and tuber dry weight significantly. Interaction effect of treatments on mean tuber weight and biomass yield was significant at 5% probability level. The number of stem per plant, mean tuber weight, tuber phosphorus concentration, tuber yield and biomass yield generally improved by increase zeolite rates. Mean of tuber weight, biomass yield and tuber dry weight increased linearly with increasing phosphorus fertilizer rate from 75 to 150 kg.ha^-1, the trends of changes in mean of mentioned traits were reduced by high amount of triple super phosphate application (250 kg.ha^-1) significantly. Finally according result of this research the highest biomass yield (58 t.ha^-1) was achieved by use of 6.0 t.ha^-1 zeolite and 150 kg.ha^-1 triple super phosphates, therefore, with a lower consumption of phosphate fertilizer (up to 225 kg.ha^-1) it can be saved fertilizer without any significant reduction in yield.