Indian Journal of Agricultural Research

A field experiment was conducted on a sandy loam soil during rabi season of 2009–10 with a view to study the effect of levels of nitrogen (0, 60,120 and 180 kg N ha-¹) and potassium (0, 60,120 and 180 kg K²O ha⁻¹) on potato tuber yield and soil available nutrient status. The tuber yield of potato was significantly increased with nitrogen, potassium and their interactions. The highest tuber yield (223.9 q ha⁻¹) was recorded by combined application of nitrogen @ 180 kg ha⁻¹ + potassium @ 180 kg ha⁻¹ (N₃K₃) which was on par with nitrogen @ 180 kg ha⁻¹ + potassium @ 120 kg ha⁻¹ (N₃K₂). The total uptake of N and K by potato at harvest was highest with N₃K₃ combination and the per cent increase being 139.4 and 142.8, respectively over N₀K₀. With regard to soil available nutrient status, N₃K₃ recorded highest available N and K²O contents in soil at all the stages of crop growth, the per cent increase being 72.2 (30 DAS), 114.6 (60 DAS) and 122.3 (at harvest) compared to that of at control (N₀K₀). Similarly the available potassium increased by 40.3 (30 DAS), 31.5 (60 DAS) and 41.4 (at harvest) per cent when compared against control (N₀K₀). From the results it was evident that higher levels of N and K had met the requirement of potato crop at different growth stages, which was reflected in terms of yield.