NL Journal of Agriculture and Biotechnology
(ISSN: 3048-9679)

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Effect of Floral Decapitation on the Yield of Two Potato Varieties (Huaych’a and Desiree)

Author(s) : Alex Sandro Caceres Aira, Victor Fredy Mita Quisbert*.
DOI : 10.71168/NAB.03.01.139

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Abstract

Floral decapitation is performed in order to favor the translocation of dry matter to the tubers, to obtain positive results in the yield of the potato tuber. The research was carried out in a plot of land in the southern Bolivian highlands, with the aim of evaluating the effect of decapitation on two potato varieties: Huaych’a (Solanum tuberosum spp. andigenum), which is late, and Desiree (Solanum tuberosum spp. tuberosum), early variety. The trial was established under an experimental design of randomized blocks with a divided plot arrangement with two study factors: Factor A: Varieties (Huaych’a – Desiree) and Factor B: Floral decapitation (with decapitation – without decapitation). Having four treatments with three replications, the variables evaluated were: percentage of emergence, plant height, stem diameter, number of stems, leaf cover, dry matter, number of tubers, tuber weight (kg), tuber classification, yield (EU and t ha-1) and benefit/cost. The results show that the climatic conditions recorded in the production cycle were favorable in the development of the tuber with a rainfall 52% higher than the average of 8 years. Plant height showed significant differences in factor A at 36, 49, 92 and 118 DDS. For the weight of the root and leaf dry matter, there were significant differences in factor A, with the Huaych’a variety being the one with a higher weight. The yield did not present statistically significant differences, but when the tuber was classified, the floral decapitation had an effect on the quality of the tubers, obtaining a higher proportion of first category in both varieties, which makes the cost benefit more than 1.98 to 2.25 in the Desiree and Huaych’a varieties. Keywords: Floral decapitation, Huaych’a and Desiree varieties, Random blocks with divided plot arrangements, tuber quality.

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