JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

To determine the nitrate pollution (water, soil, and tubers) in small (< 0.5 ha), medium (0.5- 1 ha) and large (> 1 ha) size of potato fields, this study was conducted in Fereidan region of Isfahan province during growing season of 2014-2015. For this purpose, the amounts of inputs and the tuber yield were recorded in each farm. Also, average nitrate-N concentration in irrigation water, soil and tubers of different potato farms were measured before planting and after harvesting. The results showed that the average soil N-nitrate concentration in small, medium and large size farms were 16.3, 17.4 and 19.9 mg kg^-1 before planting and 10.3, 13.3 and 23.3 mg kg^-1 after harvesting, respectively. The average N-nitrate concentration of irrigation water in small, medium and large size farms were 36.3, 27.1 and 19.5 mg L^-1 before planting and 47.6, 33.1 and 16.4 mg L^-1 after harvesting, respectively. At the post-harvest time, NO₃-N concentration of irrigation water were below the standard range concentration (45 mg L^-1) in the all large farms while 87 % of small and 85% of medium farms had more than standard concentration. The nitrate concentrations of tubers in large-sized farms were lower than others. The tuber NO₃-N concentration was affected by potato cultivar. The lowest concentration of nitrate was observed in the late-season potato cultivars (Agria). that might be associated with greater tubers yield.