Impact of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Foliar Spray of Selenium on Growth, Yield and Chemical Constituents of Potato plants

Two field experiments were carried out in El –Kassasin region, Ismailia Governorate during 2009 and 2010 seasons to study the effect of both nitrogen (N) fertilizer (at 0,150,200 and250 kg N fed rates) and selenium (Se) spray (at 0, 20, and 40g fed. rates) on the vegetative growth, tuber yield and chemical composition of Potato plants. Results showed that nitrogen application resulted in an increase in the vegetative growth, tuber yield and quality parameters as compared with the untreated plants. Data also demonstrated that selenium application promoted plant growth, tuber yield and quality over the control treatments. The interaction effects between different nitrogen rates and selenium application significantly promoted growth parameters compared with nitrogen and/or Se alone treatments, with respect to all growth and quality characters. Protein, starch, total carbohydrates, N, P and K percentages in shoots and tubers showed similar response to N and Se applications.