EFFECT OF FOLIAR FERTILIZATION ON YIELD OF SOME POTATO VARIETIES

Factorial experiment within RCBD with three replications were carried out in BabylonGovernorate at two sites (L1 and L2) during the autumn season of 2017-2018 to study theresponse of three potato varieties (Rivera, Arizona and Burren) to four spraying treatments offoliar fertilizers. The foliar fertilizers treatments were: (F1) high potash (NPK, 0-5-30), (F2)nutrient solution (N 7%, 5% P, K 7%, 0.5% Mg, K-humate 0.5% and micro elements) at 10ml/L, (f3) half the quantity of both fertilizers, as well as (F4) control (spraying with distillwater only). The spraying was applied twice: after 45 days of planting (tubers formationstage) and then 14 days later (tubing expansion stage). The results showed that Burren varietywas superior in plant yield and the total yield (469.5 g, 468.7 g and 24.88 t.ha-1and 20.29 t.ha1) respectively. The highest potash fertilizer achieved the highest yield of plant and themarketing yield (441.0 g, 439.9 g and 20.81 t.ha-1, 21.84 t.ha-1) respectively. The interactionbetween cultivars and spraying treatments had a significant effect on percentage of dry matterand starch. Burren variety with high potash fertilizer gave the highest dry matter (18.33 and18.25 %) for both locations, respectively.