The Efects of Temperature and Potassium Fertilizer on the Growth, Yield, and Biochemical Parameters of Ipomoea batatas var. Antin-1

Te impact of temperature and potassium fertilizers on the growth, yield, and
basic biochemical characteristics of sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas var. Antin1, was investigated in lowland and highland terrains. In this study we aimed
to determine the diferent traits of the sweet potato, based on its morphology,
physiology, and biochemical composition, following treatments with a potassium
fertilizer at diferent temperatures. Te study was undertaken using a nested
factorial design. Te frst factor was temperature at each of the two sites: T1
(lowland) and T2 (highland). Te second factor was potassium fertilizer (K2O)
nested within the temperature factor and consisting of four levels of K: K0 (0
kg/ha), K1 (50 kg/ha), K2 (100 kg/ha), and K3 (150 kg/ha). Each potassium
treatment was replicated three times at each location. Plant vegetative growth
in the lowland region, with a daily average temperature of 26.8 ◦C, tended to be
more bushy, with several diferent morphological properties: Te main stem was
longer (160.7 cm) and spreading, the stem diameter was greater, and the petioles
were signifcantly longer in the lowland plants compared with the highland
plants; however, no diferences were observed in the leaf characteristics. Te
diferential temperature (depending on altitude) resulted in signifcant diferences
in relative growth rates (RGR) and net assimilation rates (NAR); the values for
RGR-1 and NAR-1 in the lowlands were higher than those in the highlands. Te
tuber weight, yield index, anthocyanin accumulation, and glucose content were
signifcantly higher in the highland crops than in the lowland plants, which grew
under relatively higher temperatures. Potassium applications caused signifcant
diferences in the anthocyanin content (mg/100 g fresh weight), anthocyanin
production (kg/ha), and glucose production (kg/ha) at diferent locations.