Enhancing biofortification and yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) through zinc-enriched soil and foliar applications

Abstract

An investigation on influence of soil and foliar supplementation of zinc on yield of potato. During the rabi season of 2023-2024, a field experiment was carried out at the Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Chhindwara, under Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.) to examine the effect of applying zinc sulphate on the yield of potato tubers. Seven RDF treatments and varying zinc fertilizer dosages at 25 and 50 DAP make up the experiment. Three replications of the experiment were set up using a Randomised Complete Block Design. Yield attribute such as number of tubers per plant (14.44), tuber weight per plant (1.21 kg), tuber volume (126.79 ml), tuber yield (36.46 t/ha), fresh haulm yield (10.57 t/ha), dry haulm yield (2.14 t/ha), number of tuber grading i.e. 25-50 g (151.27), 50-75 g (140.01) &>75 g (129.04) 000’/ha, yield of tuber grading i.e. 25-50 g (10.13), 50-75 g (13.87), & > 75 g (11.09) t/ha found maximum in T7 [2.5 kg Zinc/ha from zinc sulphate, at the time of planting + foliar application of zinc sulphate @ 2 g/L (400 PPM Zn) at 25 and 50 DAP].In terms of economics, application of 2.5 kg Zinc/ha from zinc sulphate, at the time of planting + foliar application of zinc sulphate @ 2 g/L (400 PPM Zn) at 25 and 50 DAP was found to give more net monetary return (Rs 349725.82/ha), gross monetary return (Rs 433552.22/ha) and a maximum B:C ratio (4.17).