Original research article
Impact of Humic Acid, Silicon and Mycorrhizal Inoculation on Soil and Potato Phosphorus Availability, Growth and Productivity
2025, 90 (4) p. 283-296
Abstract
The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a heavy nutrient-demanding crop that responds strongly to fertiliser applications. Appropriate rates and timing of nutrient supply are critical for achieving high potato yields. This study evaluated the effects of humic acid, silicon and mycorrhizal inoculation (Glomus mosseae sp.) on soil phosphorus availability, potato growth and tuber yield. A factorial experiment was conducted using a randomised complete block design (RCBD). Three rates of humic acid (0, 100, and 200 kg·ha-1) and two rates of silicon (0 and 150 mg Si·kg-1 soil) were applied, with or without mycorrhizal inoculation. Although marketable yield did not differ significantly among treatments, unmarketable tuber yield showed clear differences. Treatments T4 and T8 resulted in the highest soil test phosphorus at flowering and at harvest, with values of 6.78 mg P·kg-1 soil and 7.39 mg P·kg-1 soil, respectively. The lowest soil pH (7.70) was also observed in T8. The highest phosphorus uptake in tubers (15.53 kg·ha-1) occurred in treatment T12, whereas phosphorus uptake in leaflets did not differ significantly among treatments. The highest net return was recorded for T6, which combined humic acid and mycorrhiza without silicon. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that soil test phosphorus at harvest, phosphorus concentration in tubers and phosphorus concentration in leaflets were the variables contributing most strongly to overall variability. Overall, treatments combining humic acid and silicon, with or without mycorrhiza, improved soil and plant phosphorus status, while humic acid plus mycorrhiza without silicon (T6) provided the best economic benefit.
Keywords
potato crop, humic acid, mycorrhizal fungi, phosphorus uptake, soil pH
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