EFFECT OF BIOCHAR ON SOIL STATUS, YIELD AND PROCESSING QUALITY OF POTATO VARIETIES

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka1207, during the period from November, 2017 to April, 2018 to evaluate the effect of

variety

and biochar on yield and some quality parameters of potato along with soil properties. The experiment is consisted of two factors, i.e., factor A:Potato varieties (3): V 1 : BARI Alu-29 (Courage), V 2 : BARI Alu-28 (Lady Rosetta) and V 3 : BARI Alu-25 (Asterix); factor B: Biochar level (5): B 0 1 and B 3 : 7.50 t ha -1 and B 4 : 10 t ha -1 : 0 t ha -1 , B 1 : 2.50 t ha . Fifteen treatment combinations were used under study and was laid out in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. The present investigation revealed that biochar had significant effect on most of the growth, yield and quality contributing parameters of potato studied in this experiment. Results showed that growth, yield and quality contributing parameters of potato increased with increasing biochar level. Biochar has also significant positive effect on sol properties such as soil pH, organic carbon and potassium content but not on nitrogen content. The soil properties results exhibited that pH level, organic carbon and potassium content increased with increasing biochar level. Among the fifteen treatment combination, Asterix with biochar level 10 t ha -1 performed superior than other combination in most of the parameters and it produced the maximum potato yield (27.33 t ha -1 ), marketable potato yield (21.30 t ha -1 ), specific gravity (1.09), potato dry matter (22.01 %), seed potato yield (20.39 t ha -1 ), grade ‘A’ potato yield (6.35 t ha -1 ), grade ‘B’ potato yield(6.28 t ha -1 ), French fry (5.70 t ha )and chips potato yield (9.03 t ha -1 ), total soluble sugar content (5.07), soil pH (6.61), soil organic carbon content (1.16%) and available potassium content in soil (0.25 %). But in case of yield V 3 B 4, V 3 B 3 , V 3 B 2 and in case of dry matter content V 3 and V 2 B 4 combinations are statistically similar. Whereas no biochar (B 0 ) treatment showed the lowest values irrespective of varieties. It may be concluded that biochar level @ 5.00 t ha -1 would be applied for maximizing yield and dry matter content. But in case of quality parameters 10 t ha -1 showed the best performances.

-1 , B 2 -1 B 3, : 5.00 t ha V 3 B 2 -