Effect of moisture regimes, FYM and levels of phosphorus carriers on growth, yield attributes and yield by potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) ranks fourth in terms of worldwide production. The states of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Gujarat accounted for more than 80 per cent share in total production; India ranks second, next to China in global production of potato. Potato crop is extremely sensitive to the deficit or surplus moisture and requires an optimum amount of irrigation at frequent intervals for its proper growth. Phosphorus (P) is an element that is potatoes require in large amounts following Nitrogen and Potassium, P application rates influence on the P efficiency for tuber yield and P uptake.

In field study, total 36 treatment combinations consisting of three moisture regimes as main plot treatment and 12 combinations of two levels of FYM, three levels of P, carriers as sub-plot treatments evaluated in split plot design with three replications using potato variety Kufri pukhraj as test crop.

Among different moisture regimes tested, the treatment receiving maintenance of moisture between 100 and 75 per cent availability at 0–30 cm soil depth (W₁) gave significantly higher plant height (52.24 cm), number of tubers per plant (6.74), total tuber yield (335.74 q/ha) and haulm yield (16.64 q/ha) during pooled results. Combinations of FYM and levels of P carriers tested, the treatment combinations FYM and application of P @ 180 kg P₂O₅/ha in the form of MAP(P₃S₁M₁) showed significantly higher plant height (50.04 cm), tuber per plant (6.87), total tuber yield (323.98 q/ha) and haulm yield (17.16 q/ha) gave during pooled results.