The investgation deals with the response and economics of N, P and K fertilizer application to potato in acidic brown hill soils of Central Potato Research Institute farms, Simla and Fagu. Three separate field experiments were conducted during 1975 and 1976, to find the potato response to N, P, K fertilizer application. The optimum fertilizer doses worked out were around 115 kg N, 120 kg P2O5 and 90 kg K2O. The Potato response to optimum N, P, K doses were 216, 122 and 75 q/ha, respectively. To work out the economics the price of potato was taken Rs. 50 to Rs. 90 per quintal and that of N, P2O5 and K2O was Rs. 6.50, Rs. 5.80 and Rs 2.00/kg respectively. The net returns with N, P, K fertilization were Rs. 10062, Rs 5407, Rs. 3550, respectively, when the price of potato was taken Rs. 50 per quintal. The cost benefit ratio of N, P, K fertilization was 1:14, 1:8 and 1:20 respectively.
