Zeolite for Enhancing Yield and Quality of Potatoes Cultivated Under Water-Deficit Conditions

This study examined the effect of application of different doses of the natural zeolite clinoptilolite and different irrigation levels on yield and quality of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), cv. Agria, and the nutrient contents of the soil under water-deficit stress in Konya-Karapınar, Turkey. The study was established in a split-plot design with three replications. The main factor was the zeolite dose (Z0:0, Z3:30, Z6:60, Z9:90 and Z12:120 t ha−1) and the sub factor the irrigation level (I50: 0.50, I75: 0.75 and I100:1.00). In I100 treatment, irrigation was applied to fill 0–60-cm soil-depth until field capacity. In other treatments (I75-I50), it was given up to 75 and 50% of water applied to I100 treatment at 6-day intervals. The amounts of irrigation water were determined by class-A pan evaporation using canopy area. For potato tuber yield, several quality characteristics and some nutrient element content in the soil, significant interaction occurred between zeolite doses and irrigation level (P < 0.01). The highest crop yields, 33.9–39.1 and 33.5–34.3 kg ha−1, respectively, were obtained from Z6I100 and Z6I75 applications in both years. There were no significant differences between these two treatments and also several other treatments (Z3I100, Z9I100 and Z12I100). In the experimental years, water consumption of Z6I75 treatment was determined as 509 and 420 mm, respectively. Some physical and chemical contents (the cation exchange capacity—CEC, exchangeable sodium percentage—ESP and total P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn and Mn contents) of the experiment soil were affected by zeolite treatments. These results showed that certain zeolite doses with optimum irrigation can be helpful for potato grown in water-deficit stress conditions because of positive effects on some soil physical and chemical properties and crop quality.