Effect of intercropping on nutrient uptake and quality parameter estimation in potato based intercropping system

A field experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm of UBKV during rabi seasons of 2008 and 2009 to assess the influence of intercropping on nutrient uptake and quality parameter estimation in potato. The treatments were: T₁-Soie potato (control), T₂-Sole mustard, T₃-Potato +mustard at 1: 1 row ratio, T₄-Potato+mustard at 2: 1 row ratio, T₅-Potato+mustard at 3: 1 row ratio, T - Potato+mustard at 4: 1 row ratio and T₇ Potato+mustard at 5: 1 row ratio and were laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with four replications. The results showed that significantly maximum residual nitrogen per hectare was obtained in sole mustard plots (178.32 kg). Experimental results also revealed that among different treatment combinations, maximum phosphorus content of soil after harvesting was obtained from sole potato plots (30.09 kg/ha) closely followed by sole mustard plots (29.34 kg). Lowest phosphorus content of soil after harvesting was obtained from potato and mustard grown in 2: 1 ratio plots (24.87 kg/ha). Maximum potassium content (159.93 kg/ha) in soil after harvesting of potato and mustard was recorded in sole mustard plots. No significant differences were found for quality parameters due to intercropping.