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484 
Original Article 

Biosci. J., Uberlandia, v. 30, supplement 2, p. 484-489, Oct./14 

TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF FERTIGATION IN POTATO FARMING 
 

VIABILIDADE TÉCNICA DA FERTIRRIGAÇÃO NO CULTIVO DE BATATA 
 

Pedro Bavuso NETO
1
; Ernani Clarete da SILVA

2
; Douglas José MARQUES

3
;  

Allan Klynger da Silva LOBATO
4 

1. Agronomic Engineer, Department of Vegetable Crops and Experimentation, University José do Rosário Vellano - UNIFENAS, 
Alfenas, MG, Brazil; 2. Professor, Doctor, Department of Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of São João del - Rei – UFSJ, Campus 
Sete Lagoas, Sete Lagoas, MG, Brazil. clarete@ufsj.edu.br; 3. Professor, Doctor, Department of Vegetable Crops and Experimentation, 
University José do Rosário Vellano - UNIFENAS, Alfenas, MG, Brazil; 4. Professor, Doctor, Center for Basic and Applied Research in 

the Amazon, Federal Rural University of Amazonia, Paragominas, Brazil. 
 

 

ABSTRACT: Excessive water use in irrigation of potato has caused concern because of the constant predictions 
of scarcity. The objective of this work was to study the technical feasibility of fertigation of potato. The experimental 
design was randomized blocks in a 2 x 3 x 3 factorial scheme with a total of 18 treatments with three replicates. The 
factors studied were: fertigation (two types: surface and subsurface), nitrogen (three doses: 75, 150 and 225 kg ha-1), 
potassium (three doses: 210, 310 and 410 kg ha-1). Significant interactions between the factors nitrogen and potassium 
were observed only for tuber weight.  There were no significant differences in the types of fertigation (surface and 
subsurface). Significant effects were observed only for the treatment of nitrogen and potassium. It was concluded that it is 
possible to produce potato fertirrigated with the use of a trickle irrigation system whether it be surface or subsurface. 

 
KEYWORDS: Solanum tuberosum L.. Irrigation. Fertilization. 

 

INTRODUCTION 
 
In Brazil, the potato, Solanum tuberosum L., 

is the most important vegetable crop produced with 
around two million tonnes annually. The technology 
requires high investments due to the importation of 
potato seed and also the excessive use of fertilizers 
and agrochemicals. Irrigation made by the various 
sprinkler systems is responsible for an excessive 
waste of water which causes constant risks of 
groundwater contamination and degradation of soils 
through erosion, especially on plantations in hilly 
areas. The activity is organized in itinerant 
production systems, i.e., in new areas which had 
never been recently occupied with cultivation of 
Solanaceae. This is, essentially, a ‘technical’ potato, 
since a large amount of pathogens and insects-pests 
are common to these species (FILGUEIRAS, 2003). 
Moreover, the practice of irrigation creates a 
favorable environment for the development and 
proliferation of these organisms, compounded by 
the washing of pesticides from leaves by irrigation 
water which forces the use of increasingly strong 
pesticides. 

According to the commission of soil fertility 
in Minas Gerais (1999), for a yield of 30 t ha-1, the 
nitrogen fertilization recommendation is fixed at 
190 kg ha-1. For phosphorus and potassium the 
recommended doses range from 50 to 420 kg ha-1 

and 0 to 350 kg ha-1, respectively, according to the 
levels of these elements in the soil, increasing the 
saturation to 60%. At planting 20% N, 80% P and 

20% K is placed, 35 days after planting (during the 
hilling) covering application is made using the rest 
of N, P and K. If there are two hilling operations, 
the amount of fertilizer to be applied should be 
divided in installments in both hillings. 

When properly delivered nitrogen 
contributes to vegetative growth, expansion of 
photosynthetic area, and increases the yield 
potential of crops in general (CARDOSO; HIRAKI, 
2001; FILGUEIRAS, 2003). Because it is a nutrient 
that has great dynamics in the soil-plant system, the 
appropriate management of N is considered one of 
the most difficult (Santos et al., 2006), as it essential 
for obtaining high yields. Therefore, it should be 
made available to the plant in time and at suitable 
sites which requires split application, topdressing 
(CARVALHO et al., 2001). 

Potassium is essential for the translocation 
of sugars and starch synthesis (REIS JR.; FONTES, 
1996), being the nutrient most absorbed by the 
potato (REIS JR.; MONNERAT, 2001). Potassium, 
according to Moinuddin and Bansal (2006), is also 
responsible for increasing the yield of tubers. 

Drip irrigation can be used both on the soil 
surface, and buried, in this case denominated 
subsurface drip irrigation. According Phene e 
Ruskin (1995), the subsurface drip irrigation 
improves the efficiency of application, because the 
stored volume can be greater than in other irrigation 
systems. Moreover, Manfrinato (1985), Lopes e 
Buso (1999), argue that the efficiency of this 

Received: 
Accepted:  



485 
Technical feasibility…          NETO, P. B. et al 

Biosci. J., Uberlandia, v. 30, supplement 2, p. 484-489, Oct./14 

irrigation method varies between 80% and 100%, 
which can be used in potato. 

The cultivation of potato adopts a 
production system where certain practices are 
essential in order to have a productivity considered 
adequate. One of these practices is the hilling that 
consists of piling up soil around the plant at the 
neck. This operation is extremely important because 
it protects the stolons creating the essential 
condition for development of tubers. On the other 
hand, this practice also hinders localized irrigation 
technology and therefore fertigation, a technology 
already widely used in many economically 
important crops such as tomatoes, peppers, 
cucumbers, and fruit in general and others. This 
study aimed to evaluated the technical feasibility of 
the use of fertigation in potato. 

 
MATERIAL AND METHODS 

 
The experiment was carried out from 

02/03/2009 to 11/06/2009, at the José do Rosário 
Vellano University in areas of the Department of 
Horticulture and Experimentation, located in 
Alfenas, MG. 

The material used consisted of the potato 
cultivar Asterix, certified of good origin and widely 
cultivated in the region. The irrigation system 
donated by Metasul (Irrigation Systems Ltd.) 
consisted of the following: the dripline with 
Metasim emitters spaced at 25 cm and flow rate of 4 
L h-1, a 1000 L water tank was also used to apply the 
nutrient solution; a Web timer, with time 
adjustments for irrigation and the rest every 15 
minutes and its multiples; Thebe motor pump, 5 
m3h-1, 40 mwc and tensiometers. 

The experimental design was randomized 
blocks in a 2x3x3 factorial constituting 18 
treatments with three replicates. The factors 
consisted of two methods of irrigation, surface and 
subsurface, three nitrogen (75, 150 and 225 kg ha-1) 
and three potassium doses (210, 310 and 410 kg ha-
1) with all possible combinations of these factors. 
Surface irrigation was made with the drip tube next 
to each plant line. At the time of hilling, 30 days 
after planting, the drip tubes were removed and 
replaced over the surface of the piles formed where 
they remained until the end of the trial. The 
subsurface irrigation was performed with the 
grounding of the final drip tube during the hilling 
procedure. White potassium chloride was used as a 
source of potassium with 60% K2O  and as nitrogen 
source, urea with 45% N.  

Each plot had dimensions of 1.6 m x 2.5 m 
consisting of two 2.50 m long rows spaced 0.80 m, 

comprising 20 plants that were evaluated by the 16 
central plants with other plants considered as 
borderline . Irrigation was done according to the 
indications of the tensiometers strategically placed 
near the experimental area. Irrigation was conducted 
when the tensiometer readings registered -30 and -
50 kPa. 

Fertigation was done weekly according to 
the treatments and the tensiometer readings. The 
experimental area initially showed the following 
nutrient content: pH (H2O) = 5,5; OM = 1,18 
dag/kg; P (Mehlich)= 25 mg/dm-3, K (Mehlich)= 
111 mg/dm-3; Ca2+ = 0,9 cmolc/dm-3; Mg2+ 
cmolc/dm-3 = 0.6; cmolc/dm-3 Al3+ = 0,1; H+Al = 
3,2 cmolc/dm-3. The phosphorus in the form of 
superphosphate was placed entirely in the plot five 
days before planting in a single dose for all 
treatments. Nitrogen and potassium were applied in 
coverage weekly in accordance with the scheduled 
doses. There were eight coverages during the crop 
cycle and according to its phenological stages. For 
these applications, was used fertigation. For each 
treatment (different doses of nitrogen fertilizer and 
potassium) the volume of nutrient solution, the time 
of fertigation and irrigation time to wash the 
equipment was determined. For the fertigation the 
venturi applicator was not used; 1,000 gallons used 
for irrigation being directly deposited. 

Before fertigation, according to each 
treatment, the tank was supplied with enough water 
to fill the entire pipeline and start the drip in all 
related emitters only to the portions corresponding 
to the treatment in question. After this procedure, 
the tank was supplied with the nutrient solution and 
then this solution was applied fully in the 
corresponding plots. At 101 days after planting the 
following characteristics were evaluated: average 
weight of the tuber, in grams and commercial 
production in tonnes per hectare. Data were 
subjected to analysis of variance and then the 
averages were submitted to regression analysis. For 
these procedures we used the Sanest. 
 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 

 
Average Weight of Tubers 

There were significant interactions between 
factors nitrogen and potassium. No significant 
effects of irrigation types (Surface and Sub-surface) 
indicating no need to remove the tube emitters at 
hilling time (Table 1). According to Camp (1998) 
sub-surface drip irrigation has been compared with 
other irrigation systems for different types of 
culture, in all cases the output is equal to or greater 
than other systems. The tubers reached adequate 



486 
Technical feasibility…          NETO, P. B. et al 

Biosci. J., Uberlandia, v. 30, supplement 2, p. 484-489, Oct./14 

size for the cultivar within commercial standard in 
this region, regardless of type of irrigation used. For 
both types of irrigation observed a quadratic 
response to doses of 210 and 310 kg ha-1 of 
potassium. Specifically for surface irrigation, the 
dose of 310 kg ha-1 of potassium was found to be the 
best result when combined with an estimated dose 
of 112,5 kg ha-1 of nitrogen. From this dose on there 
was a gradual decreased in average weight of the 

tubers, indicating a harmful effect of the fertilizer 
(Figure 1). For a dose of 410 kg ha-1 of potassium it 
was observed a linearly effect, with a gradual 
decrease of the average tuber weight with the 
increase of nitrogen. Similar behavior was observed 
with the sub-surface irrigation indicating no 
influence of irrigation on fertilizer application as 
well as the irrigation itself (Figure 2).  

 

Table 1. Weight of tubers in function of treatments.  
Irrigation Average Weight of Tubers (g) 

Sub-surface 92.47a 

Surface 90.93a 
• Means followed by different letters differ at 5% probability by Tukey test. 

Nitrogen level (kg ha
-1

)

75 150 225

A
v
e
r
a
g
e
 w

e
ig

h
t 

o
f 

th
e
 t

u
b

e
r
c
le

 (
g
)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Potassium level 210 (kg ha
-1

) 

Potassium level 310 (kg ha
-1

) 

Potassium level 410 (kg ha
-1

)

y = -0,0022x
2
 + 0,6608x + 50,31 (R

2
 = 1)

y = -0,0018x
2
 + 0,4849x + 73,66 (R

2
 = 1)

y= -0,0225x + 84,717 (R
2
=0,8921)

 
Figure 1. Effect of potassium and nitrogen level in the average weight of potato tubers with surface fertigation. 

Nitrogen level (kg ha
-1

)

75 150 225

A
v
e
r
a
g
e
 w

e
ig

h
t 

o
f 

th
e
 t

u
b

e
r
c
le

 (
g
)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Potassium level 210 (kg ha
-1

)

Potassium level 310 (kg ha
-1

) 

Potassium level 410 (kg ha
-1

)

y = -0,002x
2
 + 0,5289x + 66,48 (R

2
 = 1)

y = -0,0019x
2
 + 0,5061x + 72,68 (R

2
 = 1)

y= -0,0335x + 84,717 (R
2
=0,89)

 
Figure 2. Effect of potassium and nitrogen level in the average weight of potato tubers with sub-surface 

fertigation.  
 

By comparison, the dose of nitrogen is less 
than that indicated for potato, which is 190 kg ha-1 N 

and more than the recommended dose of potassium, 
considering the soil content of the nutrient being 



487 
Technical feasibility…          NETO, P. B. et al 

Biosci. J., Uberlandia, v. 30, supplement 2, p. 484-489, Oct./14 

found to be good (FONTES, 1999). Probably this 
response is due to a lower initial dose of nitrogen 
and increased fragmentation of applications 
resulting in better use by the plants. 

 
Commercial Production 

There were no significant interactions 
between factors irrigation, nitrogen and potassium. 
The only significant effects were observed for the 
nitrogen and potassium treatments. Considering 
only the nitrogen, there was a quadratic effect with 
the doses of nitrogen applied to both types of 

irrigation.  The highest yield, 28.56 and 28.03 t ha-1, 
considering sub-surface and surface irrigation, 
respectively, was reached with an estimated dose of 
138, 75 kg N ha-1, from which there was a decrease 
in production with increasing doses (Figure 3 and 
Table 2). For potassium, similar behavior was 
observed with good commercial production levels  
compatible with those observed  by potato growers  
in the region (Figure 4) with a significant drop in 
production from the dose of 310 kg ha-1 of 
potassium (Figure 4 and Table 2).  

Nitrogen level (kg ha
-1

)

75 150 225

C
o
m

m
e
r
c
ia

l 
p

r
o

d
u

c
ti

o
n

 (
t 

h
a

-1
)

0

10

20

30

Surface Irrigation

Sub-surface irrigation

y = -0,0007x2 + 0,2139x + 13,25 (R2 = 1)

y = -0,0008x
2
 + 0,2223x + 11,94 (R

2
 = 1)

 
Figure 3. Effect of nitrogen level in commercial potato depending on the type of fertigation.   
 

TABLE 2. Commercial production of potato (t ha-1) in function of nitrogen and potassium rates and the type of 
irrigation.   

Irrigation Nitrogen level  
(kg ha

-1
) 

Potassium level  
(kg ha

-1
) 

 75 150 225 210 310 410 

Surface  24.30 28.03 23.13 25.45 25.6 18.33 
Sub-surface  25.1 28.56 23.63 25.6 26.51 18.78 



488 
Technical feasibility…          NETO, P. B. et al 

Biosci. J., Uberlandia, v. 30, supplement 2, p. 484-489, Oct./14 

Potassium level (kg ha
-1

)

210 310 410

C
o

m
m

e
r
c
ia

l 
p

r
o

d
u

c
ti

o
n

 (
t 

h
a

-1
)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Surface Irrigation

Sub-surface irrigation

y = -0,0004x
2
 + 0,1944x + 0,9829 (R

2
 = 1)

y = -0,0004x
2
 + 0,2337x - 4,4342 (R

2
 = 1)

 
Figure 4. Effect of potassium level commercial potato depending on the type of fertigation.  
 
 
CONCLUSION 

 
It is possible to produce potatoes fertigated 

with the use of a localized trickle irrigation system, 
independent of it being surface or subsurface. 
 
 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
 

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa de Minas 
Gerais - FAPEMIG for providing the scholarship to 
the second author and Metasul (Irrigation Systems 
Ltd.), for donating the equipment used in irrigation 
research. 

 
 

RESUMO: Viabilidade técnica da fertirrigação no cultivo de batata. O uso excessivo de água na irrigação da 
batata tem causado preocupação em razão das constantes previsões de escassez.  O objetivo do presente trabalho foi 
estudar a viabilidade técnica de fertirrigação na cultura da batata. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso em 
esquema fatorial 2 x 3 x 3 totalizando 18 tratamentos com três repetições. Os fatores estudados foram: fertirrigação (dois 
tipos: superficial e sub-superficial); nitrogênio (três doses: 75, 150  e 225 kg ha-1); potássio (três doses: 210, 310 e 410 kg 
ha-1). Para peso médio dos tubérculos, foram observadas interações significativas apenas entre os fatores nitrogênio e 
potássio.. Não houve diferenças significativas para os tipos de fertirrigação (superficial e sub-superficial). Os efeitos 
significativos foram observados apenas para os tratamentos doses de nitrogênio e doses de potássio.  Concluiu-se que é 
possível produzir batata fertirrigada com uso de sistema de irrigação localizada independente de ser superficial ou sub-
superficial. 
 

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Solanum tuberosum L.. Irrigação. Fertilização. 
 
 
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