Effects of foliar Fe and Zn fertilizers on storage root Fe, Zn, and beta-carotene content of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)

Abstract

Foliar sprays of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) fertilizers are effective in improving Fe and Zn concentrations in sweet potato. The objective of this experiment was to examine the effects of foliar fertilization with Fe and Zn in association with amino acids (AA) on Fe and Zn biofortification and the nutritional quality of sweet potato under both greenhouse and field conditions. Compared with treatment CK, foliar Fe, Zn, and Fe-Zn fertilizer applications could biofortify Fe and Zn concentrations and other nutrients in sweet potato to different extents. However, when 0.4% (wt/vol) AA was added to Fe-Zn fertilizer, the average Fe and Zn concentrations were increased by 70.2% and 59.8% under greenhouse conditions, and 52.9% and 43.7% under field conditions, respectively. The Fe-Zn-AA fertilizer application also resulted in incremental increases in root yield and beta-carotene content. This research identified some useful foliar fertilizers for accelerating Fe and Zn accumulation in selected sweet potato cultivars.

Keywords:

• beta-carotene
• Fe
• foliar fertilizers
• sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)
• Zn

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The present research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31572194) and Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China (2018M633647XB).