Effect of thermophosphate on the growth and production of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Potato cultivation is one of the most representative activities of the Colombian Andes. The crop has high production costs, among which fertilization represents 36% of the total Technological advances in plant nutrition have allowed the development of new compounds that generate greater assimilation and availability of nutritional elements during productive periods. Within the different phosphorus sources available in Colombia, thermophosphate exists as an alternative. For this reason, the objective of this research was to evaluate the application of thermophosphate in the potato crop, Superior ’variety, under field conditions in the municipality of Villa Pinzón-Cundinamarca. A completely randomized design was used with 4 treatments that corresponded to different percentages of thermal phosphate: 100% diammonium phosphate (DAP) (conventional management); 80% DAP, 20% thermal phosphate (TF); 40% DAP, 60% TF and 20% DAP, 80% TF (0, 300, 600 y 900kg ha-1), with three replicas for a total of 12 experimental units. The variables evaluated were fresh and dry weights of areal and root part, phosphorus concentration in tissue and yield by qualities and the total. It was observed that the application of thermophosphate at different concentrations generated a positive effect, statistically different (P≤0.05) in all the variables evaluated. Thermophosphate, at 600kg ha-1 was found to be an alternative for the contribution of phosphorus within the fertilization plans, in search of a better physiological and productive response of the potato crop.