Effect of nitrogen levels and size of tuber on growth, yield of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) Var. Kufri Badshah

Abstract

The treatments comprised four nitrogen levels (0, 80, 100 and 120 kg/ha) and three size of tuber (25, 35 and 45 g). The significantly tallest plants were recorded with the application of N120 at all the growth stages. The height was up to 77.93 cm at harvest stage, where as it was only 53.94 cm under N0 nitrogen. The highest plant height was recorded by largest 45 g tuber size at all the stages of observations. The lowest height was noted from smallest 25 g tuber size. At harvest stage, 45 g tuber size recorded 67.47 cm height as against only 63.30 cm under 25 g tuber sizes. The varying levels of nitrogen showed significant effect upon number of branches/plant at all the stage of observations. At harvest stage, the maximum branches were 4.73/plant due to N120, where as minimum 3.11/plant under without nitrogen. The tuber size of 45 g recorded significantly more branches/plant over 25 g tuber sizes only at every stage. At harvest stage, maximum branches from 45 g tuber size were 4.09/plant which were decreased to 3.73/plant under 25 g tuber size. The significantly highest leaves/plant was recorded due to N120 over the preceding N-levels at every stage. The maximum leaves count at N120 was 58.29/plant at against only 43.18/plant under N0 nitrogen. The largest tuber size (45 g) recorded non-significantly highest leaves count at 30 and 60 DAS, but significantly highest (51.31/plant) at harvest stage. The smallest tuber size (25 g) recorded minimum leaves count at every stage (50.60 cm at harvest). The stem diameter was influenced significantly due to N-levels at every stage. At harvest stage, N120 resulted in significantly highest stem diameter (6.24 cm) over all the preceding N-levels.