Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Aliasghar Fozouni ¹
• Babak Andalibi ¹
• Mehrdad Chaichi ²
• Sajjad Nasiri ³

¹ Department of Production Engineering and Plant Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, university of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran.

² Department of Seed and Plant Improvement Research, Hamedan Agricultural and Natural Resources, Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Hamedan, Iran.

³ Department of Production Engineering and Plant Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, university of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

Abstract

Objective: Drought and limited water resources threaten global potato production. This study evaluated the effects of foliar potassium silicate on agronomic performance and physiological traits of three potato cultivars under water-deficit
Methods: The experiment followed a split–split-plot design in a randomized complete-block arrangement with three replications. Irrigation interval (main plot) comprised 7, 10, and 13 days. Foliar treatments (sub-plot) included: (i) control (no spray), (ii) a single spray at 50 days after planting, and (iii) two sprays at 40 and 80 days after planting at 2 L K2SiO3 per 1000 L water. Cultivars (sub-sub plot) were Corsica, Sante, and Vog. Measured traits were tuber yield, total chlorophyll, soluble protein, total carbohydrate, proline, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content.
Results: The triple interaction among irrigation interval, foliar treatment, and cultivar significantly affected all traits. The highest tuber yield (44.61 t ha⁻¹) occurred with 7-day irrigation, two foliar sprays, and the Corsica cultivar; the lowest yield (39.60 t ha⁻¹) occurred with 13-day irrigation without foliar spray in Sante. Total chlorophyll was highest under non-stress conditions with two sprays in Corsica (2.26 mg g⁻¹ FW). Proline accumulation peaked in Sante under severe drought (13-day irrigation, no spray) (53.69 μmol g⁻¹ FW). Soluble protein (14.94 mg g⁻¹ DW) and total carbohydrate (21.12 mg g⁻¹ DW) were greatest under 10-day irrigation with two sprays in Corsica. MDA content was lowest with two sprays under 7-day irrigation (3.02 nmol g⁻¹ FW) and highest in Sante under severe drought without spray (25.14 nmol g⁻¹).
Conclusions: In Corsica, two foliar applications of potassium silicate under 7-day irrigation improved physiological performance and water-use efficiency while reducing oxidative stress indicators. Mild drought stress also enhanced accumulation of protective compounds (soluble carbohydrates and proteins) in Corsica. In contrast, Sante under severe drought without foliar application showed the greatest oxidative damage and yield reduction. Overall, combining two potassium silicate foliar applications with selecting drought-tolerant cultivars such as Corsica offers a promising, sustainable approach to maintaining yield, enhancing quality, and optimizing water use in drought-prone regions.

Keywords

• Chlorophyll
• Drought stress
• Osmolytes
• Potato physiology