Partial Substitution of Chemical Fertilizer with Organic Manure Enhances Yield Attributes and Tuber Quality in Potato

Purpose Excessive application of chemical fertilizer leads to the problems of low yield and poor quality of potatoes in semiarid areas. Therefore, the present study aimed to improve potato productivity in a semi-arid region by the partial substitution of organic fertilizers for chemical fertilizers. Methods The field trial was conducted to study the effects of different fertilizer treatments (CK1, no fertilization; CK2, urea 450 kg center dot ha(-1), calcium superphosphate 375 kg center dot ha(-1), potassium sulphate 525 kg center dot ha(-1) (100% chemical fertilization); T1, 80% chemical fertilization + 3000 kg center dot ha(-1) organic fertilization; T2, 80% chemical fertilization + 6000 kg center dot ha(-1) organic fertilization; T3, 70% chemical fertilization + 3000 kg center dot ha(-1) organic fertilization; and T4, 70% chemical fertilization + 6000 kg center dot ha(-1) organic fertilization) on agronomic traits, photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and quality of potato. Results The findings showed that T2 significantly increased the plant height, stem thickness, and soil-plant analysis development (SPAD) value of potatoes. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), and transpiration rate (Tr) of T2 were significantly higher than that of the other treatments at the tuber expansion stage. In addition, higher yield, larger tubers, higher number of potatoes set per plant, and higher fertilizer contribution rate were found in T2 compared to other treatments. In T2, the yield reached 36,580 kg center dot ha(-1) and 37,915 kg center dot ha(-1) in 2018 and 2019, respectively. T2 significantly increased the contents of starch, vitamin C, and soluble protein in tubers but reduced the range of reducing sugar and nitrate compared to CK1 and CK2. Conclusions Thus, the application of 80% chemical fertilization + 6000 kg center dot ha(-1) organic fertilization remarkably enhanced most agronomic and photosynthetic traits, which in turn improves potato growth, yield, and tuber quality, suggesting that 80% chemical fertilization + 6000 kg center dot ha(-1) organic fertilization can be used as a reasonable fertilizer application pattern in semi-arid areas.

Automated summary

Excessive use of chemical fertilizers in semiarid areas leads to low yield and poor quality of potatoes. This study aimed to improve potato productivity by partially substituting organic fertilizers for chemical fertilizers. The results showed that the application of 80% chemical fertilization + 6000 kg/ha organic fertilization significantly enhanced agronomic traits, photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and tuber quality of potatoes. Therefore, this fertilizer application pattern can be recommended for semiarid regions.