Effect of Potato Cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L.) and Humic acid Concentrations on potato growth and yield for plant grown in desert area

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during Autumn season of 2014-2015 in Tomato Development Project belong to Basrah Agricultural Director, Khor Al-Zubair. The aim of the experiment was focused on the effect of three potato cultivars (Arizona, Arnova and Revera) and the addition of humic acid to the soil with three concentrations ( 0 , 1 and 2 G.L-1 ) on growth and yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) grown in desert area. Split –plot Design was used with three replication. Means were compared according to Least Significant Differences (L.S.D) at0.05 probability level.Results showed that Revera cultivar gave a significant increase in main stem diameter, leaf area, dry weigh of vegetative growth, tuber weigh 88.38 g, total plant yield 492.6 g as well as the marketable and total yield 4.50, 4.82 ton.donum-1,respectirely. While Arizona cultivar gave a significant increase in stem and tuber number. Arnova cultivar gave significant increase in plant height.Application with 2g.l-1 Humic acid gave a significant increase in plant height, main stem diameter, total leaf number, dry weigh of vegetative growth, tuber number.plant-15.85 tuber, total plant yield 423.4 g, marketable and total yield 3.75, 4.15 ton.donum-1,respectively compared to the control( non humic acid added). The interaction between both factors gave significant effect in all Vegetative traits and yield except for tuber number.plant-1.