The goal of the work was to determine dry matter content and chip color of potato tubers, cultivar Asterix, grown under five N levels. Tubers were planted in bags with 4.4dm-3 of a commercial substrate, on September 2nd, 2003, at UFSM, RS, Brazil. Treatments consisted of five nutrient solutions with N concentrations of 5.0 (T1), 8.3 (T2), 11.3 (T3), 14.3 (T4) and 6.3mmol L-1 (T5). Tubers were harvested on December 17th, 2003, at 104 days after planting. Tubers were stored during 15 days before determinations of dry matter and chip color. Dry matter content increased in tubers from T1 to T3 and decreased thereafter, following a polynomial model. Dry matter content was 19.5; 20.5; 20.8; 18.6 and 18.4g 100g-1 respectively from T1 to T5. Tubers produced with T2 and T3 N levels reached the minimum dry matter content (20g 100g-1) indicated in the literature. N levels did not affect chip color. In conclusion, tuber dry mass could be reduced by N levels and fertilization practices should be adjusted to produce potato tubers for industry.
Solanum tuberosum; chips; mineral nutrition; dry matter
