Nutrient use effeciency, yield attributes and comparative economics of potato crop (Solanum tuberosum L.) in response to zinc and boron nutrition in entisols of India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2015–16 and 2016–17 at C-unit research farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India to determine the effect of boron and zinc on growth and yield of potato under lower Gangetic plains of West Bengal. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with four replications having seven treatments viz. T1 (RDF of NPK 200:150:150 kg N: P2O5:K2O/ha), T2 (T1+2.0 kg B/ha as soil application), T3 (T1+ 4.5 kg Zn/ha as soil application), T4 (T1+2.0 kg B/ha and 4.5 kg Zn/ha as soil application), T5 (T1+ 0.1% boron (boric acid) as foliar application in three times at 40, 50 and 60 DAP), T6 (T1+ 0.1% zinc (zinc sulphate) as foliar application in three times at 40, 50 and 60 DAP) and T7 (T1+ Foliar spray of 0.1% zinc (zinc sulphate) + 0.1% boron (boric acid) at 40, 50 and 60 DAP). The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture and slightly alkaline in reaction (pH 7.35) having an organic carbon content of 0.57%, 183.26 Kg available N/ha, 16.80 kg available P/ha, 132.00 kg available K/ha. The available Zn and B content of initial soil were 1.48 mg/kg and 0.86 mg/kg respectively. The results revealed that the highest values of various nutrient use and uptake efficiency parameters were recorded with the foliar application of Zn and B. Also, the same trend was observed where the highest value of harvest index of 83.20% and returns per rupee invested above farmer‟s practice of 28.5% was observed in T7 (T1+ Foliar spray of 0.1% zinc (zinc sulphate) + 0.1% boron (boric acid) at 40, 50 and 60 DAP).