Introduction: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important food crops worldwide, and grown in diverse ecological conditions. The crop plays a vital role in food security and significantly contributes to farmers' economic well-being. Optimal management of nutrient resources and water is a key factor in enhancing potato tuber yield. While several studies have investigated the effects of individual nutrients and irrigation regimes on potato growth and tuber yield, comprehensive management strategies of integrating both factors have received less attention. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different nutrient and water management packages on growth indices, tuber yield, and yield components of potatoes in the Dehgolan plain in Kurdistan province in Iran. Materials and Methods: The experiment was carried out over two growing seasons (2021 and 2022) in Dehgolan plain in Kurdistan province in Iran, using a randomized complete block design with nine treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of: T1- Conventional management, T2- NPK fertilization based on soil test, T3- NPK fertilization based on soil test + chicken manure, t4- Conventional management+500 kg.ha-1 sulfur, T5- Conventional management+1000 kg.ha-1 sulfur, T6- NPK Fertilization based on soil test + irrigation at 80% FC, T7- conventional management + irrigation at 80% FC, T8- NPK Fertilizing based on soil test + chicken manure + irrigation at 80% FC, T9- NPK Fertilizing based on soil test + chicken manure + irrigation at 80% FC+ 1000 kg.ha-1 sulfur. Each experimental plot area was 25 m² and included six planting rows. The distance between plots was one meter, and the distance between replications was two meters. During the growing season, key growth parameters, including leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), dry matter accumulation, tuber yield, and yield components, were measured and recorded. Results: The results indicated that management packages significantly affected potato growth and tuber yield. The highest dry matter accumulation was recorded in treatment T9 in both growing seasons (1435.69 g.m-2 in 2021 and 1810 g.m-2 in 2022). Treatments T7 and T8 ranked second and third in both years. Leaf area index (LAI) was also influenced by management packages. In 2021, the highest LAI (4.45) was observed in treatment T7, whereas in 2022, the maximum LAI (7.27) was recorded in treatment T9. Similarly, the highest crop growth rate (CGR) in 2021 was observed in treatment T9 (29.59 g.m-2day-1). In 2022, due to earlier planting, the growth rate increased, with treatment T3 showing the highest CGR (29.99 g.m-2.day). The highest tuber yield in 2021 was obtained in treatment T7 (36.7 t.ha-1), while in 2022, treatment T9 had the maximum tuber yield (49.87 t.ha-1). The lowest tuber yield in both growing season were observed in treatment T1 (conventional management package in the region), with 23.67 t.ha-1 in 2021 and 37.11 t.ha-1 in 2022. The lower yield in 2021 compared to 2022 was primarily due to a sudden temperature drop in early October 2021. Conclusion: The findings of this experiment demonstrated that appropriate nutrient and water management packages significantly affected potato growth, tuber yield. Treatments with a combination of adequate nutrient and water application exhibited the highest LAI, CGR, and tuber yield. Therefore, application of such packages can be recommended as an effective management approach to improve potato production in the Dehgolan plain in Kurdistan province in Iran.
Rezaie B, Hosseinpanahi F, Siosemardeh A. Effect of fertilizer application methods and irrigation on growth indices and tuber yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Dehgolan plain in Kurdistan province, Iran. Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences. 2025; 27 (2) :110-128 URL: http://agrobreedjournal.ir/article-1-1411-en.html