Off season potato production in trench in cold arid conditions of Leh-Ladakh

Potato is an important vegetable crop in Ladakh. Locally grown potato is available from September to May initially as harvest from fresh crop and later through stored potatoes during winter, There is a scarcity of locally produced potato from June–August in the region which can be over come by off season potato production in trenches. The trenches being used here serve as an underground greenhouse. The structure has been found to be the most suitable for off season (early) potato production in cold arid climate of Ladakh. Seed tubers can be planted in well prepared beds in the trench in the last week of February to first week of March at 45 cm × 15 cm spacing at 10–12 cm depth. After planting trench is covered with 200 micron thick translucent poly1hene sheet. Remaining cultural practices are followed as for normal potato production in the region. The crop gets ready for harvest in first week of June and yielded 2.65 kg/m². However, yield depends on the duration of crop. Maximum yield (5.04 kg/m²) was recorded when harvested in second week of July.