Effect of vermi-compost and biofertilizers on productivity and profitability in potato in north-western Himalayas

A field experiment was conducted with potato (variety Kufri Jyoti) at the Experimental Farm of KVK, Sundernagar, Himachal Pradesh in an acidic soil fertilized with vermi-compost and biofertilizers independently or in combination. It was revealed that graded vermi-compost doses @ 20 or 30 t ha⁻¹ as well as biofertilizers alone or in combination with vermi-compost increased plant height. Enhancements in potato tuber yield as well as gross and net returns were also observed. These results were obtained in the treatment comprising vermi-compost @ 30 t/ha + phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) + Azotobactor followed by vermi-compost application @ 30 t ha⁻¹ + PSB + Azotobactor biofertilizers. Application of varying vermi-compost levels alone or in combination with PSB or Azotobactor or their co-inoculation resulted in significant improvement in the available N, DTPA-exchangeable Fe, Mn and Cu in the soil. The highest magnitude of these nutrients noticed in the treatment comprising vermi-compost @ 30 t ha⁻¹ + PSB + Azotobactor, while the differences were non-significant for the attributes like soil pH, organic carbon, available P and K as well as DTPAexchangeable Zn. Overall, vermi-compost @ 30 t ha⁻¹ along with co-inoculation of PSB and Azotobactor appeared to be the best treatment combination over other treatments to realize highest productivity, profitability as well as soil fertility in potato under organic production in north-western Himalayas.