Influence of fertilization on yield, nutritional and qualitative characteristics of potato tubers under different agro-climatic conditions in Armenia
¹Armenian National Agrarian University, Scientific Center of Soil Science, Agrochemistry and Melioration named after H. Petrosyan, 24 Admiral Isakov Ave, AM0004 Yerevan, Armenia
²Center for Agricultural Research and Certification, State Non-Commercial Organization of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, AM1139, v. Merdzavan, Armavir Marz, Yerevanyan highway 2nd deadlock, building 4, Armenia
³National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, Department of Engineering Geodesy, Teryan Str., 105, AM0009 Yerevan, Armenia
⁴Yerevan State University, Faculty of Biology, Department of Biology, 1 Alex Manoogian, AM0025 Yerevan, Armenia
*Correspondence: mhzadayan@gmail.com
Abstract:
This study investigates the effects of mineral (N150P120K120, ‘Control-Treatment 1’) and organo-mineral fertilization (with 20 t ha⁻¹ of farmyard manure (FYM), ‘Treatment 2’, and 40 t ha⁻¹ of FYM, ‘Treatment 3’) on the yield, nutritional value, and quality of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers under different agro-climatic conditions in Armenia. Field trials were conducted in two contrasting regions: Dasht village (Ararat Plain, 850 m a.s.l.) with cultivated irrigated meadow-fulvous soils, and Vahan village (Gegharkunik Highlands, 2000 m a.s.l.) with mountain black soils (chernozems). The research measured tuber yield, dry matter, starch, vitamin C, and protein content over three years (2019–2021).
Application of T3 (NPK + 40 t ha⁻¹ FYM) significantly improved all measured indicators. Yield increased by up to 28%, dry matter by 10.8%, starch by 12.0%, vitamin C by 13.4%, and protein content by 14.4%. Climate conditions also had a significant impact on tuber productivity and composition. In chernozems, compared to irrigated meadow-fulvous soils, yield increased by 15.1–21.6%, and the content of dry matter, starch, and vitamin C increased by 3.1–8.7%. However, protein content was higher in the irrigated meadow-fulvous soils by 3.4–5.2%.
These results demonstrate the importance of fertilization strategies tailored to specific agroecological zones and climatic trends, particularly in the context of climate change adaptation.
Key words:
agro-climatic conditions, dry matter, Farmyard manure, growth conditions, mineral and organic fertilization, potato, protein content, starch, tuber yield and quality, vitamin C