Evaluating the Impact of S8 Matrix Nutrition on Quantitative Traits of New Potato Cultivars Under Water Stress

This study aimed to enhance the tuber yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum) cultivars using a sulfonated silicon nutrient solution enriched with additional nutrition, referred to as S8 Matrix. The research also sought to identify the most effective application method for this nutrient solution under both water deficit stress and normal irrigation conditions. The experiment was conducted over two years (2022 and 2023) at the Ardabil Potato Research Station, utilizing a split factorial design based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main experimental factors included irrigation levels (100%, 75%, and 50% of the plant available water), foliar application of the nutrient solution at four plant growth stages, and three potato cultivars (Agria, Rona, and Takta). Key traits such as plant height, number of main stems per plant, tuber number, tuber weight per plant, tuber yield, and water use efficiency were evaluated. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among irrigation levels, nutrient solution treatments, and cultivars, as well as their interactions. Foliar spraying with the sulfonated silicon nutrient solution containing S8 Matrix (at a concentration of 3 liters per 1,000 liters of water) during the flowering, tuber formation, and tuber bulking stages notably improved tuber yield and water use efficiency, with the Takta cultivar demonstrating the highest performance.