Journal of Current Research in Food Science
2025, Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part F
Optimizing nutrient inputs for enhancing starch quality in potatoes for food industry use
Author(s): Chinedu O Nwafor and Amina H Suleiman
Abstract: Potato is an important raw material for starch-based food industries, yet fertilizer practices in commercial production often prioritise yield over starch functionality and processing quality. This study evaluated the effects of contrasting nutrient input regimes on tuber yield, starch quantity and starch functional attributes in a processing potato cultivar grown under irrigated subtropical conditions. A field experiment was conducted over two rabi seasons in a randomized complete block design with five treatments: farmer’s practice (imbalanced fertilisation), recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF, 100% mineral NPK), 75% RDF plus farmyard manure (FYM), 75% RDF plus FYM plus biofertilizers (integrated nutrient management, INM) and a fully organic regime based on FYM, vermicompost and biofertilizers. Tuber yield components, dry matter, specific gravity and economic returns were recorded, while laboratory analyses quantified starch content, amylose, pasting and swelling behaviour, reducing sugars, chip colour and oil uptake. Analysis of variance, correlation, regression and principal component analysis were applied to assess treatment effects and multivariate patterns. INM with 75% RDF + FYM + biofertilizers produced the highest total and marketable yields, increased dry matter and specific gravity, and enhanced starch content and amylose concentration compared with farmer’s practice and RDF alone. INM and organic treatments reduced reducing sugars, improved chip colour and slightly lowered oil uptake, indicating superior suitability for frying and other industrial uses. Multivariate analysis showed that INM and organic regimes clustered with high-starch, high-amylose, high-viscosity and low-sugar profiles, while farmer’s practice grouped with low-starch, high-sugar and poor processing attributes. Economic analysis confirmed higher net returns and benefit: cost ratios under INM. The findings demonstrate that optimised nutrient inputs, particularly well-designed INM schedules, can deliver a synergistic improvement in yield, starch quality and profitability in processing potato systems.
DOI: 10.22271/foodsci.2025.v6.i1f.266
Pages: 493-500 | Views: 104 | Downloads: 41
Download Full Article: Click Here
How to cite this article:
Chinedu O Nwafor, Amina H Suleiman. Optimizing nutrient inputs for enhancing starch quality in potatoes for food industry use. J Curr Res Food Sci 2025;6(1):493-500. DOI: 10.22271/foodsci.2025.v6.i1f.266
