Mycorrhizal Inoculation Improves Mineral Content of Organic Potatoes Grown under Calcareous Soil

Soil mycorrhization can play an important role for the qualitative improvement of organically grown “early” potato tubers especially in low fertility soils (such as calcareous ones), by ameliorating plant uptake of limiting mineral nutrients in the soil. Hence, the objective of the present research...

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Published inAgriculture (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 4; p. 333
Main Authors Lombardo, Sara, Scavo, Aurelio, Abbate, Cristina, Pandino, Gaetano, Parisi, Bruno, Mauromicale, Giovanni
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.04.2021
Subjects
Agricultural production
Agriculture
arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Calcareous soils
Copper
Crop diseases
Cultivars
Dietary minerals
Farming
Inoculation
Manganese
Minerals
Nutrients
Organic farming
Potatoes
Seeds
Soil characteristics
Soil fertility
Soil improvement
Soil sciences
Soils
sustainability
tuber mineral composition
Tubers
Vegetables
“early” potato
Italy
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Summary:Soil mycorrhization can play an important role for the qualitative improvement of organically grown “early” potato tubers especially in low fertility soils (such as calcareous ones), by ameliorating plant uptake of limiting mineral nutrients in the soil. Hence, the objective of the present research was to elucidate the impact of soil mycorrhization on the tuber minerals content of three potato cultivars organically grown in two locations with different soil characteristics. Our data revealed the keyrole of soil mycorrhization on the tuber accumulation of Na, Cu, Mn, and P and on reducing the Na/K ratio, although the effects of soil mycorrhization were cultivar- and location-dependent. Accordingly, soil mycorrhization was able to enhance the levels of K and Ca in ‘Arizona’ and that of Mn in ‘Universa’, while it increased the Zn amount in all the cultivars under study. Additionally, soil mycorrhization significantly improved the levels of Cu and Mn in tubers in the location characterized by an initial higher soil level of these micro-minerals. This work highlighted the possibility to fortify organic early potato tubers, in terms of macro- and micro-mineral elements, by applying an eco-sustainable tool such as soil mycorrhization, provided that specific consideration is given to cultivar choice and soil characteristics.
ISSN:2077-0472
2077-0472
DOI:10.3390/agriculture11040333