Regulation effects of water and nitrogen on potato dry matter and nitrogen accumulation and partitioning

In order to maximize potato tuber yield and nitrogen uptake, it is important to optimize the management practices related to dry matter (DM) and nitrogen (N) accumulation and partitioning. To evaluate the effects of water and N level on DM and N accumulation and partitioning during the tuber bulking stage in the potato, a pot experiment was conducted with three water levels (90%, 70%, and 50% of field capacity) and three N levels (0, 85.5 and 171 kg N ha -1 ). The results showed that potato tuber yield and tuber N uptake were significantly affected by the water levels, N levels, and the interaction between water and N. Under the watered and moderate N conditions (90% of field capacity and 85.5 kg N ha -1 ), the tuber yield and N uptake were the highest. Watered conditions, moderate N conditions, and the watered combined with moderate N condition increased the tuber yield and tuber N uptake by increasing the accumulation of total DM and N in the plant, while not by increasing the partitioning of DM and N to tubers. Therefore, these results suggest that optimizing water and N management to improve DM and N accumulation is the key to ensuring high tuber yield and N uptake in the potato.