Evaluation of nitrate concentration in soil, groundwater and potato tubers on different farm size levels in Fereidan city of Isfahan

To determine the nitrate pollution (water, soil, and tubers) in small ( 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.