Effect of Calcium Chloride and Calcium Nitrate on Potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) Growth and Yield

In potato production calcium nutrients can be applied in the form of calcium chloride or calcium nitrate. In this regard, application of calcium nutrients during growth of potato plants can be considered as an alternative method to improve plant growth and yield. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of calcium chloride and calcium nitrate on potato growth, tuber yield and assess whether these calcium nutrients differentially affected potato plant growth and tuber yield. Pot experiment was conducted in lat-house under natural sun light condition. The study was conducted in randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments were consisted of a factorial combination of two potato varieties (shenkola and gera) and three types of calcium nutrients: calcium chloride alone, calcium nitrate alone and calcium chloride mixed with calcium nitrate (1:1) each at three levels (5 g, 10 g and 15 g per liter per plant) and the control treatment (0 g of Ca nutrients). In comparison to the control treatment, application of either calcium nitrate alone or combined application of calcium chloride mixed with calcium nitrate has significantly increased plant height and tuber yield both in shenkola and in gera potato varieties. In contrast, plant height and tuber yield was not significantly differed in both potato varieties sprayed with all levels of calcium chloride alone. Hence it can be concluded that application of calcium chloride and calcium nitrate differentially affected potato plant growth and tuber yield.