Abstract

PARRA TERRAZA, Saúl et al. Nitrate/potassium interaction in the nutrient solution and potato yield in hydroponics. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2018, vol.9, n.5, pp.993-1005. ISSN 2007-0934.  https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v9i5.331.

The interactions of nutrients in plants can be quantified by nutrient concentrations in plant organs, however, there are few studies that evaluate the interaction of more than one nutrient in the same experiment, and few reports of the N/K interaction in the nutritive solution in the yield and the mineral composition of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). The objective of this research was to evaluate in greenhouse and hydroponics the interaction of three percentage ratios NO3 -/anions (40/100, 60/100 and 80/100) and three of K+/cations (15/100, 35/100 and 55/100) on the mineral composition of leaves, stems, tubers and potato yield cv. Agatha. The experimental design used was completely randomized with a factorial arrangement of treatments 32. The interaction NO3 -/anions x K+/cations was significant for the concentrations of P, K, Ca and Mg in leaves; K, Ca and Mg in stems; and Ca and Mg in tubers. The NO3 -/anions and K+/cations, and the interaction NO3 -/anions x K+/cations did not statistically affect the tuber diameter, the tuber dry matter, the number of tubers and the yield. These results indicate that potato production in a closed hydroponic system and coconut fiber substrate NO3 -/anions and K+/cations should not be greater than 60/100 and 15/100, respectively, since high ratios NO3 -/anions (80/100) and K+/ ations (55/100) reduce the yield of tubers 16.7% and 12.8%, each.

Keywords : Solanum tuberosum L.; nitrate-anions relationship; potassium-cation ratio.