INFLUENCE OF HARVESTING DATE ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF POTATO VARIETIES

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy research field, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka from November 2013 to May 2014, to find out the effect of harvesting time on yield and some processing quality of local potato cultivar. The experiment consists of four potato varieties and four different harvesting times. Harvesting time often affects the yield, dry matter, specific gravity and color of potato tubers. Comparative study of some processing traits of three local varieties of potato (‘Fata Pakri’, ‘Sada Pakri’ and ‘Rumana’) harvested at 80, 90, 100 and 110 days after planting with those of True Potato Seed variety ‘BARI TPS-I’ is used in this study. Tuber samples were harvested after 10 days of tuber skin-curing in the soil. Potato tuber yield increased significantly up to the last date of harvest. Mature tubers exhibited significantly higher dry matter and specific gravity compared to immature ones. Tuber color was also significantly affected by time of harvest irrespective of varieties. The ‘BARI TPS-I’ gave the highest tuber yield. ‘Fata Pakri’ exhibited the highest specific gravity and dry matter content. On the basis of flesh color, ‘BARI TPS-I’, ‘Fata Pakri’ and ‘Sada Pakri’ were found suitable for chips. Bangladeshi potato farmers and processors will get benefited from the information generated regarding the appropriate harvesting time of local potatoes for processing industries.