Changes in the content of total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in potato tubers under the influence of the use of herbicides

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in the years 2005-2007 in RSD in Zawady belonging to the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce. The experiment was set in the split - plot system in three repetitions. The investigated factors were: I - edible potato varieties - Irga and Balbina. II - four ways of mechanical cultivation - three using herbicides: Plateen 41.5 WG, Racer 250 EC, Sencor 70 WG and without herbicides (control object). The aim of the studies was to determine the effect of herbicides on the content of total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in tubers of two varieties of the edible potato. The mechanical-chemical care applied in the experiment contributed to the increase in the content of total nitrogen and lowering of phosphorus and potassium compared to the only mechanical care. The Irga variety was characterised by a significantly higher content of total nitrogen (average - 15.84 g·kg-1) and phosphorus (average - 3.526 g·kg-1), while the Balbina variety had a higher content of potassium - average 25.28 g·kg-1. Climatic conditions in particular growing seasons had a significant impact on the content of total nitrogen and potassium in edible potato tubers.