Effect of FYM and NPK Levels on Potato (Solanum tuberosum) - Sesame (Sesamum indicum) Crop Sequence

A field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) season of 2007 - 08 to Kharif season of 2009 - 10 to evaluate lower doses of FYM (2, 4 and 6 tonnes FYM/ha) in combination with three NPK levels (180:34.9:100, 270:52.4:150 and 360:69.8:200 kg/ha) for potato at CPRI Station, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. Sesame was grown on residual fertility in sequence. Integrated use of NPK 270:52.4:150 kg/ha along with 2 tonnes of FYM/ha recorded highest benefit:cost ratio (2.2). Increasing application of NPK (180:34.9:100 to 270:52.4:150 kg/ha) increased large-sized tuber yield (7.5 - 8.5 tonnes/ha and total tuber yield (28.4 - 32.4 tonnes/ha), however application of 2, 4 or 6 tonnes FYM/ha did not show any significant increase in total tuber yield. Increasing NPK levels increased potato equivalent yield from 32.2 to 37.3 tonnes/ha. Higher net return of 85.6 x 10³ ‘/ha was obtained with 2 tonnes FYM/ha compared to 4 and 6 tonnes FYM/ha. There was no significant effect of organic and inorganic nutrient doses on cutworm damage on potato crop.