Journal of Crop Production and Processing

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Tadayon M R, Abbasi dehkordi N, Rafieiolhossaini M, Karimi M. Effect of Bio-fertilizer Application on Quantitative, Qualitative, and Yield Indices of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Carlia in Two Warm and Cold Climates. J Crop Prod Process. 2026; 16 (3) :45-61
URL: http://jcpp.iut.ac.ir/article-1-3415-en.html

Introduction: Sustainable agriculture, as a modern approach, plays a significant role in enhancing productivity and conserving natural resources. In this context, climate, as one of the fundamental environmental factors, has a considerable impact on the growth and  agronomicperformance of crop plants. Variations in climatic conditions can influence plant growth processes and lead to fluctuations in production levels. On the other hand, the use of biofertilizers as a suitable alternative to chemical inputs has gained importance in improving production efficiency and reducing environmental impacts. These inputs can contribute effectively to increasing yield by enhancing the nutritional status of plants and stimulating biological activity in the soil. The interaction between climatic conditions and the application of biofertilizers is considered one of the key factors determining the success of production systems. Therefore, simultaneous evaluation of the effects of climate and biofertilizers on crop performance is of particular importance. This study aimed to determine how climate and fertilizer treatments influence potato performance under field conditions.
 
Materials and Methods: A field experiment was conducted in 2025 to evaluate the effects of two contrasting climates, i.e. warm and cold, on the quality, nutritional, growth, and yield traits of the table potato cultivar ‘Karlia.’ The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three fertilizer treatments: Biofarm, mycorrhiza, and an unfertilized control, at two locations (in southwest of Iran) representing warm conditions (Bazoft) and cold conditions (Shahrekord), with three replications. Before planting, potassium sulfate was applied according to soil test results and crop requirements. In the Biofarm treatment, seed tubers were immersed for 15 minutes in a solution prepared from the biofertilizer (5 L per 100 L water) and then planted. Mycorrhizal inoculum was applied at a rate of 10 g m-2 at planting, placed in a band beneath the tubers. 

Results: The results showed that fertilizer treatments had a significant effect on all evaluated traits, location had a significant effect on tuber yield, tuber specific gravity, tuber protein percentage, stem diameter, number of stems, and plant dry weight, and their interaction was significant only for tuber protein percentage. Biofarm fertilizer produced the highest tuber yield (94.73 tons ha-1), harvest index (68.33%), tuber dry matter (24.54%), stem diameter (1.28 cm), number of stems (18.33), and plant dry weight (135.81 g). The mycorrhiza treatment resulted in the highest tuber specific gravity (1.17 g cm-³) and number of tubers per plant (16.33), whereas the greatest amounts of reducing sugars (5.68 mg g-1) and amylose (35.73%) were observed in the control treatment. The cold region (Shahrekord) was superior, with a tuber yield of 94.69 tons ha-1, specific gravity of 1.107 g cm-³, 16.88 stems per plant, and plant dry weight of 132.5 g, while stem diameter was higher in the warm region (Bazoft), reaching 1.41 cm. The highest tuber protein content in both regions was obtained under the mycorrhiza treatment.

Discussions: The results of this study showed that both fertilizer treatments and climatic conditions strongly influenced the growth, yield, and quality of the Karlya table potato cultivar. Fertilizer treatments significantly affected all measured traits, while location mainly influenced tuber yield, specific gravity, protein percentage, stem diameter, number of stems, and plant dry weight. The interaction between fertilizer and location was significant only for tuber protein content, highlighting its sensitivity to both climate and nutrition.
Biofarm biofertilizer produced the highest tuber yield, harvest index, tuber dry matter, stem diameter, number of stems, and plant dry weight, indicating its high potential for improving productivity and vegetative growth. Mycorrhiza, in turn, resulted in the greatest tuber specific gravity, number of tubers per plant, and the highest tuber protein content in both regions, emphasizing its role in enhancing tuber formation and nutritional quality. In contrast, the control treatment produced the highest reducing sugar and amylose contents, which were associated with lower yield. Climatically, the cold region (Shahrekord) outperformed the warm region (Bazoft) in tuber yield, specific gravity, number of stems, and plant dry weight, confirming that cooler conditions are more favorable for Karlya performance. 
Conclusions: Overall, the findings suggest that Biofarm, especially in cold regions, is suitable for maximizing yield and biomass, while mycorrhiza is more effective for improving tuber quality and protein content. The use of these biological fertilizers can partially replace chemical fertilizers, enhance productivity and quality, and contribute to the goals of sustainable potato production