Evaluation of three potato varieties (Solanum tuberosum L.), three planting densities and two substrates for prebasic seed production

Abstract

The research was carried out in the greenhouses of the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of El Salvador, in the months of may to september 2017; the objective was to evaluate three potato varieties: Soloma, Tollocan and Granola, in three planting densities (6, 8 and 10 plants in 0.16 m2), with two substrate combinations (60% volcanic slag plus 40% coconut fiber) and (Pumice stone 60% plus coconut fiber 40%), in a volume of 98.75 L.m-2, applying the hydroponics technique for the production of mini tubers as a prebasic seed. The experimental design used was completely randomized blocks with a three-factor arrangement, with 18 treatments, four blocks and the Tukey mean comparison test at 5% significance. Variables evaluated: stem diameter, number of leaves, height of plants, total of mini-tubers, number of tubers per plant, total weight of mini-tubers and percentage of dry matter was determined. To analyze the information generated, the statistical software InfoStat was used. As results in the variables number of plants, total of mini-tubers per treatment, total number of mini-tubers per plant and total weight of minitubers, the Soloma potato variety was higher, showing significant differences (p <0.05) in relation to Granola varieties and Tollocan. Likewise, the sowing density of six mini-tubers in 0.16 m2 (37.5 mini-tubers.m-2) was higher in relation to the densities of eight and ten mini-tubers for the variable number of leaves, total of mini-tubers per treatment and weight of mini-tubers. In relation to the substrate, volcanic slag 60% plus coconut fiber 40% showed significant statistical difference (p ≤0.05) for the variable, number of leaves, total minituber, with respect to the pumice stone substrate 60% plus coconut fiber 40%. It is concluded that the Soloma variety showed higher yields of mini-tubers per square meter with a density of 37.5 plants, using the combination 60% volcanic slag plus 40% coconut fiber.