Effect of soil moisture stress at different growth stages on the yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L) var. Kufri Chandramukhi

Field experiments were conducted on alluvial, sandy loam soils of Babugarh and Modipurm (Uttar Pradesh, for two years to study the effect or soil moisture stress at different crop stages on yield contributing characters and tuber yield. Mild moisture stress (0.5 atm.) during first stage of crop growth i. e. before tuber initiation did not cause any reduction in yield but imposition of severe moisture stress (0.75 atm.) at this stage had adverse effect on yield as well as on tuber number per plant. The moisture stress during second stage of crop growth i. e. tuber setting and enlargement had harmful effect on tuber size and yield. The reduction in tuber yield at second stage of plant growth was more at 0.75 atm. soil moisture stress than that at 0.5 atm. soil moisture stress. The soil moisture stress during the third stage of crop i.e. slow bluking to maturity did not affect the tuber number, tuber size and tuber yield.