Leaf pigment content and accumulation of dry matter by potato plant as affected by sulfate fertilizer in green house experiment

From the time mineral fertilizers were used single superphosphate have been the main source of phosphate in plant nutrition. This fertilizer contains nor only 19-21% of P2O5 but also sulfate in form of gypsum and small amount of sulfuric acid. As a result, application of one kg of superphosphate enriched the soil with 80-100 g of sulfates. During last 40-50 years single superphosphate was replaced by concentrated mineral fertilizers which contain up to 42-52% of P2O5. And now on some soils the main source of sulfurbecome precipitations which bring sulfur oxides produced by chemical enterprises and exhaust fumes of machinery. As a consequence of this there are not rear cases when growing plants, and more often legumes, oil and root corps, show signs of sulfur deficit. Optimal levels of sulfur content in plant leaves well established. But there is obvious interest to get more objective data on physiological processes which are more sensitive to deficit of this plant nutrient and on preferable time of sulfur application. Influence of sulfate and other anions of potassium fertilizers on leaf pigment content and accumulation of dry matter by potato plants are presented and discussed in the article.

sulfur, sulfate fertilizer, chlorophyll, carotenoids, absorbance of UV spectrum