The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the effects of Zn fertilizer application methods and fungicides with or without Zn on potato plant growth, tuber yield and nutrient contents. The experiment was installed in the Horta Nova of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa with the Monalisa cultivar on a cambic Red-yellow Podzolic, containing 6.9 mg dm-3 of Zn extracted by Mehlich-1. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block with four replications in a split plot design. The fungicide spray programs (with or without Zn) were done in the main plots and the zinc fertilizer application methods (control, Zn in the soil, Zn sprayed on the plant shoots and Zn in soil + shoots) were in the split plots. Plant growth (stem lengths and numbers, shoot dry matter and tuber numbers) was characterized at 20 and 45 days after plant emergence. Following natural senescence, tubers were harvested, graded and weighted. At both sampling dates, plant growth was not affected by the treatments. Commercial tuber yield (44.2 t/ha) was higher in the plots receiving fungicides containing Zn and it was not affected by zinc fertilizer application methods. The treatments did not affect the P, Ca, Mg, Cu and Fe contents in the tubers but Mn and Zn contents were higher when plants were sprayed with Zn fungicides.
Solanum tuberosum; micronutrient; foliar sprays; soil application
