Abstract. The use of the cover in the potato cultivation for early crop caused an increase in the potassium content in tubers on average by 0.05% d.m. in comparison with the cultivation without plants covering. More profitable conditions for accumulation of this element in tubers were created by cover of plants with polypropylene fibre than with perforated foil.

The potassium content in early potato tubers depending
on cultivation method

Summary

The effect of the kind of cover (perforated polyethylene foil, polypropylene fibre) and date of removal cover (two and three weeks after plants emergence) on the potassium content in tubers of early potato cultivars (‘Aksamitka’, ‘Cykada’) was investigated. Potatoes were harvested 60 and 75 days after planting.

Forcing of plant vegetation by covering resulted in an increase in the potassium content in tubers by 0.05% d.m., in comparison with the cultivation without the plants covering. Higher potassium content in tubers on average by 0.12% d.m. after 60 days from planting and by 0.11% d.m. after 75 days from planting at perforated foil covering was found. The length period of plants covering had no significant effect on this element content in potato tubers. Lower rainfalls in the vegetation period of potato caused an increase of the potassium content in the tubers.