Improvement of Growth, Yield and Biochemical Properties of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. "Montreal" and "Red Bull") by Foliar Application of Zinc Under Calcareous Soil Conditions

Considering the widespread deficiency of zinc (Zn) in soils and crops, a comprehensive investigation of soil and plant is required. Foliar application could serve as a wise and economical approach for immediate correction of Zn deficiency. Information regarding the effect of foliar application of Zn on potato crop in calcareous soil is still underdeveloped. Therefore, the present study was designed to quantify the efficacy of foliar spraying of Zn on the physio-chemical attributes of potato cvs. "Red Bull" and "Montreal" grown in an alkaline calcareous soil. A field experiment was carried out at Agriculture Research Institute, Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan) during 2018-19 growing season. The experiment was conducted with four treatments: CK (control), Zn1 (Zn @ 3.3 gL(-1)) Zn2 (Zn @ 6.67 gL(-1)) and Zn3 (Zn @ 10 gL(-1)) following randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results revealed that Zn application at 10 gL(-1) showed higher number of medium, large, and total number of tubers per plant, moreover, the same Zn application rate increased harvest yield, marketable yield, dry matter content, total soluble solids, starch content, ascorbic acid content, and total protein contents. Similarly, among potato cultivars, "Red Bull" performed better toward Zn application and showed significant positive impact on vegetative growth, yield and biochemical properties. It can be concluded that foliar application of Zn @ 10 gL(-1) on potato cv. "Red Bull" showed better tuber quality, higher marketable yields and along with elevated physicochemical properties.