The Effect of Allelopathic Interaction Between Sunflower Residues and Foliar Application on Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) Plants

Growth, yield and quality of potato are greatly affected by nutritional management. This study was planned to evaluate interaction effect of sunflower residues and foliar application of 100% water soluble NPK fertilizer 20-20-20 on growth and yield of potato during the spring season of 2014 which potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Desiree) Class A, were used. The field experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 4 replications. Effect of sunflower residues on potato crop was studied by using 5 t ha -1 (T2), 10 t ha -1 (T3) and (T1) without residues. The results showed that maximum tuber yield per treatment (plot) and per hectare as well as Tubers number per plant, Tuber weight per plant were recorded in T3 followed by T2 and T1, respectively. However, plant length, number of stem, leaf area, total Chlorophyll, and dry weight (g) were found to be the highest in T3 while lowest in the control (T1). Further perusal of data illustrated that there were no significant differences between T2 and T3, nonetheless differs noticeably from T1. Also, the proline accumulation and antioxidant activity enzymes results shows no allelopathic potential on all treatments. The present study revealed that sunflower residues used highly effective approach in yield of potato crop and increasing environmental safety by reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizer and herbicide.