The Correct Combination and Balance of Macronutrients Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium Promote Plant Yield and Quality Through Enzymatic and Antioxidant Activities in Potato

An adequate provision of essential plant nutrients to cash crops such as potatoes not only ensures higher productivity and desired tuber quality but also promotes better development under unfavorable environments. The present trial was planned to investigate and understand the effects of various treatments of mineral fertilizers viz., nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) (NPK) in individual and combined forms on potato crops. Experimental treatments were comprised various combinations viz., control (no addition of any type of fertilizer); N = 150 kg ha⁻¹; P = 75 kg ha⁻¹; K = 225 kg ha⁻¹; NP = N + P; NK = N + K; PK = P + K; NPK = N + P + K in soil. The results indicated that different combinations of NPK fertilizer in individual and combined forms not only influence the growth attributes such as stem diameter (83.96%) and tuber yields (180.09%) but also enhance photosynthetic attributes by improving the total chlorophyll (135.63%), carotenoids contents (143.75%), and potato quality by increasing tuber starch contents (78.75%), plant sucrose contents (52.86%) and sucrose enzyme activity (69.68%). A linear decrease in the lipid per oxidation attributes was observed where a combined application of NPK was applied. It was obvious that all the yield and quality attributes were enhanced by the combined application of NPK fertilization and then decreased gradually with the individual application of NPK fertilization. In contrast, though, the P and K application in combined form showed inferior response as compared to NP and NK fertilization. A clear and significant change in potato plants was observed under the various types of treatments especially related to the content and uptake of NPK in plants. Moreover, a highly significant relationship was observed between the balanced combination of NPK fertilization with tuber quality. This study underscores the importance of balanced fertilization practices in bolstering growth, yield, tuber quality, and antioxidative defense mechanisms and mitigating oxidative damage in potato crops.