Soil and foliar application of zinc for improving nutritional quality in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Abstract

In order to investigate the response of application of zinc sulphate on the quality of potato tubers, a field experiment was conducted during rabi season 2023-24 in a field at the Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Chhindwara, under Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.). The experiment consists of 7 treatments with RDF and different doses of zinc fertilizer at 25 and 50 DAP. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results indicated that treatment T7 [2.5 kg Zinc/ha from zinc sulphate, at the time of planting + foliar application of zinc sulphate @ 2 g/L (400 ppm Zn) at 25 and 50 DAP] give maximum total soluble solids (6.37 ◦Brix), starch (30.96%), total sugar (5.50%), reducing sugar (0.92%), non- reducing sugar (4.58%), dry matter of tubers (75.48 g/plant) and Zn content of potato tuber (24.79 mg/kg) as compare to other treatments. Based on the present investigation, it can be concluded that soil with foliar application of zinc sulphate improved potato tuber quality under the present agro-climatic conditions as a biofortified crop.