Effect of magnesium fertilization and boron spraying on the growth and yield of two variety of potatoes (Solanum tuberosom L.) cultivars in calcareous soil in northern Iraq

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of magnesium fertilization and boron spraying on some growth and yield characteristics of two potato cultivars in one of the fields of the College of Agriculture and Forestry/University of Mosul in northern Iraq. The field was divided into 3 panels (each panel represents a replicate) and each field was divided into 24 experimental units. Then, the potato cultivars CARRERA (v₁) and PREMABELLE (v₂) were planted. Magnesium was added at four levels (0, 40, 80, 120) kg h-1 and the symbols were given (Mg₀, Mg₁, Mg₂, Mg₃) respectively, while boron was added at three levels (0, 25, 50) mg L¹ and the symbols were given (B₀, B₁, B₂) respectively. The results showed the superiority of the (Mg₃) treatment in all the studied traits and recorded the highest value for the trait of dry weight of the vegetative part (43.69) g plant^-1, the total yield of tubers (56.48) tons ha-1, the percentage of dry matter in tubers (17.60)%, the percentage of starch in tubers (11.68)%, the percentage of protein in tubers (9.35)%, the magnesium content in the plant (23.26) mg kg^-1, and the boron content in the plant (1.13) mg B kg^-1 plant. As for the effect of spraying with boron, treatment (B₂) was superior and recorded the highest value for the trait of dry weight of the vegetative part (41.95) g plant^-1, total yield of tubers (52.48) tons h^-1, percentage of dry matter in tubers (18.05)%, percentage of starch in tubers (12.08)%, percentage of protein in tubers (10.66)%, magnesium content in the plant (21.97) mg kg^-1, and boron content in the plant (1.33) mg B kg^-1 plant.