Performance of Phosphobacteria on Phosphorus Economy and Net Return in Different Potato Growing Region of India

Field experiments were conducted at eleven centers of All India Coordinated Research Project on Potato located in different agro-climatic zones to investigate the role of phosphobacteria in P economy in potato crop during 2005–06 and 2006–07. Six treatments consisting of combinations of different levels of P as well as phosphobacteria (PSB) used in the study showed significant effect on yield of potato. At Kalyani, Chhindwara, Kota, Patna, Hassan and Ooty, recommended dose of NK + 75% P + PSB was statistically at par with recommended dose of NPK in term of total yield. At Bhubaneshwar, Dholi, Hisar, Deesa and Modipuram, 75% of fertilizer P + PSB either had no significant effect on potato tuber yield or reduced the yield marginally in two years of experimentations. Net returns with recommended NPK or 75% P + PSB showed the best results at most of the centers. The per cent saving of fertilizer P, calculated using quadratic model, was maximum for Hassan (43%). In general, use of PSB saved around 20 to 25% P, depending upon agro-ecological situations and soil conditions. However, at Bhubaneshwar, Kota and Dholi the saving being very meager was not economical. The results clearly indicate the role of PSB in saving fertilizer P across different agro-climatic zones, However, it also came out very clearly that effectiveness of the PSB depends on agro-ecological situations and soil conditions.