Vol. 9, Issue 12 (2020)

Author(s):
Subhranath Hensh, GC Malik, M Banerjee and T Shankar

Abstract:
Field experiment was conducted with potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) during winter (rabi) seasons of 2014-15 and 2015-16 to study on integrated nutrient management in productivity and economics of potato under red and lateritic belt of West Bengal. The study was laid out at Bahadurpur, Birbhum district of west Bengal which consists of 14 treatments and carried out in randomized block design with three replications. Among all the treatments, maximum yield (12.85 t ha^-1 and 14.15 t ha^-1, respectively) of larger size tubers i.e. grade A (>100 g) tubers and medium size i.e. grade B (50-99 g) tubers was recorded with treatment T₁₀-80% RDN through chemical fertilizer + 20% through vermicompost + biofertilizer. However, maximum (8.79 t ha-1) yield of grade C (<50 g) tubers was recorded with the treatment T₂-80% RDN through chemical fertilizer + 20% through Farm Yard Manure (FYM). Crop receiving treatment T₁₀ also showed highest total tuber yield (32.05 t ha-1) of potato. The higher tuber yield with T₁₀ treatment could be attributed to increased availability of nutrients including micro nutrients in the soil which led to enhanced absorption of nutrients by the crop resulting in increased tuber production. An increase in tuber yield with the combined application of vermicompost and biofertilizers might be positive impact of vermicompost due to its richness in both macro and micronutrients. Similarly gross return (224315 ₹ ha^-1), net return (132659 ₹ ha^-1) and return per rupee invested (₹ 2.45) was recorded highest with treatment T₁₀ followed by treatment T₁₁, which was statistically at par with each other.