
%0 Journal Article
%A Chapman, KSR 
%A Sparrow, LA 
%A Hardman, PR 
%A Wright, DN 
%A Thorp, JRA 
%T Potassium nutrition of Kennebec and Russet Burbank potatoes in Tasmania: effect of soil and fertiliser potassium on yield, petiole and tuber potassium concentrations, and tuber quality
%J Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
%D 1992/07/01
%V 32
%N 4
%P 521-527
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/EA9920521
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/EA9920521 
%X The response of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars Russet Burbank and Kennebec to soil and fertiliser potassium (K) was studied on basaltic krasnozems of north-west Tasmania. Yield increases in response to fertiliser K were recorded at sites with up to 300-400 mg/kg of bicarbonate extractable soil K. The close correlation between relative yield and soil K indicated that soil K can reliably predict fertiliser requirements. Petiole K concentrations at early tuber set increased with fertiliser K at responsive sites; maximum yields were achieved with 12-14% petiole K for Kennebec and 11-13% for Russet Burbank. Petiole K concentrations provide an excellent indication of the K status of a growing crop. Tuber K concentrations increased with both soil and fertiliser K, and yields of 50-80 t/ha removed 180-380 kg K/ha in the tubers. At severely deficient sites specific gravity and crisp colour increased with low rates of fertiliser K, but the general trend was for fertiliser K to reduce specific gravity and crisp colour. Bruising susceptibility decreased with fertiliser K at some sites but the physiological disorder, 'hollow heart', was not influenced by fertiliser K. There were consistent differences between the 2 cultivars. Russet Burbank required higher soil K, had lower petiole and tuber K concentrations and removed less K in the marketable tubers. 
