Potato is a very sensitive crop to water management, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Therefore,
a field experiment was conducted using a drip irrigation system to improve and raise the irrigation efficiency as
well as enhance potato growth performance and productivity. The experimental design used was of a split-plot,
as the main factor was irrigation treatments [I1:100% of irrigation requirement (IR), I2: 80% of IR, I3: 60% of
IR], while the sub-main factor was soil additions [F1: 100% of mineral NPK, F2: 100% of K recommended dose
as feldspar combined with KSB, F3: 75 % of K recommended dose as feldspar combined with KSB + 25% of
mineral NPK, F4: 50 % of K recommended dose as feldspar combined with KSB + 50 % of mineral NPK, F5:
25 % of K recommended dose as feldspar combined with KSB + 75 % of mineral NPK]. The highest values of
all measurements such as fresh and dry weights (g plant-1
), plant height (cm), total carbohydrate content in
foliage, tuber yield (g plant-1&ton fed-1
), tuber diameter (cm) and tuber size (cm3
) were recorded with the 100%
of IR treatment combined with F5 treatment. While the lowest values were achieved with the 60% of IR
treatment combined with F2 treatment. On the other hand, there is no significant difference between the
combined treatment of I2F5 and the combined treatment of I1F1 and this confirms the unique and vital role of
feldspar combined with mineral fertilizers as a novel approach facing water deficit conditions |
