Influence of crop diversification in potato-based cropping sequence on growth, productivity and economics of potato in red and lateritic soil of West Bengal

Field experiment was conducted at Agricultural farm of the Institute during 2020-21 and 2021-22 to study growth, yield attributes, yield and economics of potato as influenced by potato-based cropping sequences. The experiment, consisted of seven treatments (viz. Potato–sesame; Potato–green gram; Potato–baby corn; Potato–okra; Potato–groundnut; Potato–blackgram and Potato–vegetable cowpea. Potato in potato– groundnut sequence exhibited highest growth, yield attributes (number of tubers hill^-1 and fresh weight of tubers hill^-1) with tuber and haulm yield of 23.95 and 1.30 t ha^-1, respectively. Highest gross return, net return and return per rupee investment in potato was also achieved from potato–groundnut sequence (₹ 264 × 10³ ha^-1, ₹ 174 × 10³ ha^-1 and 2.91, respectively). These were at par with potato in potato –vegetable cowpea, potato–blackgram and potato–green gram sequences and significantly higher than potato in potato-sesame, potato–baby corn and potato–okra cropping sequences. Inclusion of legume crops in potato–based cropping sequences enhanced tuber and haulm yield of potato resulting in higher return from the sequence.