Standardization of planting dates, spacings and different nutrition levels in potato tuber yield

Abstract

Field experiment carried out during the two successive growth seasons of 2018-19 and 2019-20 (Rabi) at College farm, College of Horticulture, Venkataramannagudem, West Godavari Distract of Andhra Pradesh. There were 18 treatment combinations consisting of 3 factors viz., planting dates (3 levels viz., D1: October 15th, D2: November 1st and D3: November 16th), plant spacings (2 levels viz., S1: 60 cm x 20 cm, S2: 75 cm x 20 cm) with NPK doses (3 levels viz., F1: 120:60:150 kg ha-1, F2: 160:80:200 kg ha-1 and F3: 200:100:250 kg ha-1). Potato variety Kufri Surya was used in this experiment and the treatments were laid in a factorial randomized block design (FRBD) replicated thrice under open field conditions. As per pooled results, November 1st planting recoded (D2) maximum values for number of tubers plant-1, average tuber weight, yield plant-1, yield plot-1, marketable tuber yield, total tuber yield, harvest index and minimum unmarketable tuber yield. These similar trends were also observed with application NPK @ 160:80:200 kg ha-1 (F2) for all the yield characters. Among spacings, 60 x 20 cm spacing (S1) recorded the maximum number of tubers plant-1, yield plot-1, marketable tuber yield and total tuber yield whereas 75 x 20 cm spacing (S2) noticed the higher values foe average tuber weight, yield plant-1, harvest index and lowest unmarketable tuber yield. Among three-way interactions, D2 S2 F2 combination (November 1st planting + spacing of 75 x 20 cm + NPK applied @ 160:80:200 kg ha-1) significantly recorded average tuber weight, yield plant-1 and harvest index whereas D2 S1 F2 combination (November 1st planting + 60 x 20 cm spacing + NPK @ 160:80:200 kg ha-1) gave maximum number of tubers plant-1, yield plot-1, marketable tuber yield and total tuber yield. Three-way interactions found non-significant effect on unmarketable tuber yield.