Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) Cultivar Yield and Quality Affected by Irrigation and Fertilization—From Field to Chip Bag

Abstract

Potatoes are essential for chip production, requiring high quality for processors and high yields for farmers. This two-year study was carried out for the purpose of investigating the influence of irrigation, fertilization, and cultivar on potato yield and tuber and chip quality. Field experiments were conducted in Sombor, Serbia, using a split-split plot design with three replications. Whole-plot treatments involved two irrigation schemes: sprinkler irrigation (SI) used as standard (control) and drip irrigation (DI). Subplot treatments included nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilization in four different combinations: 64 kg N/ha and 64 kg K/ha (N64K64) as control; 77 kg N/ha and 110 kg K/ha (N77K110); 90 kg N/ha and 156 kg K/ha (N90K156); and 103 kg N/ha and 202 kg K/ha (N103K202). Sub-subplots comprised three cultivars: VR-808; Pirol; and Brooke. The VR-808 cultivar consistently yielded the highest amount (25.6 and 24.9 t/ha) under both irrigation methods. DI raised tuber flesh temperature compared to SI. The N90K156 × Pirol interaction exhibited the highest number of tubers with defects, while N90K156 × VR-808 had the fewest. Under DI, the VR-808 cultivar produced chips with the highest total defects, whereas Brooke had the lowest. The postfrying palm oil temperature was the highest for N64N64 × Brooke and the lowest for N110K220 × Pirol. This study underscores the role of irrigation, fertilization, and cultivar in achieving high yields and high chip quality, providing valuable insights into the whole process, from field to chip bag.

Keywords

• irrigation
• fertilization
• cultivar
• potato
• tuber
• chip