Response of Growth and yield of two potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L.) for soaking with Gibberellic, and Plant and seaweed extracts, and humic fertilization for autumn Season

Abstract

This study was conducted in the field of one of the distinguished potato farmers in Babylon province, Dibla region, which lies about 17 km south of Hilla city during the autumn season (2016) to study the effect of three factors: First: two cultivars of potatoes (Arizona and Burren), The second is the addition of the humic fertilizer with two levels (250, 500 kg.ha-1) in addition to the control treatment (chemical fertilizers). Third: soaking the tubers before cultivating with four treatments (water only, gibberellic acid with a concentration of 5 mg.L-1, licorice solution with a concentration of 10 g L-1, seaweed extract (Alga 2008-1) at a concentration of 1 g.L-1) for 5 min and for all treatments. The experiment was designed with Split-Split Plot Design in The Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), with three replicates. The experiment included 24 a factorial treatments (2 × 3 × 4), followed by a fixed spraying irrigation system. After the data were recorded, the averages were compared using the Duncan's Multiple Range Test and at the probability level of 0.05. The results can be summarized as follows: Burren was significantly excelled in the yield of one plant, total number of tubers / plant and total yield of tubers with an increase of (26.73, 26.73, 21.78%), respectively. In the percentage of dry matter and starch in the tubers, while Arizona was significantly excelled in the percentage of protein in the tubers. The soaking treatment of tubers with gibberellic acid led to a significant increase in the marketable yield of the plant, the total number of tubers / plant and the total yield of tubers, with an increase of (45.45, 39.62, 36.29%), respectively compared with control treatment (water soaking only). There was no significant effect of fertilizer treatments added in all the studied traits. The triple interaction between the studied factors gave significant differences between the treatments.