YIELD AND QUALITY OF POTATO (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L.) AS INFLUENCED BY SPLIT APPLICATION OF NPK AND IRRIGATION

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from September-2020 to February-2021, to study the yield and quality of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) as influenced by fertilizer and irrigation frequency. The experiment consisted of two factors, and followed split plot design with three replications. Factor A. Different fertilizer application frequency (3) viz: F = Split 2 times N and K (50 % basal N and K of RDF + 25% N and K each at 30 and 45 DAP), F = Split 3 times N and K (40 % basal N and K of RDF + 20% N and K each at 30, 45 and 60 DAP) and F = Split 3 times N and K and 2 times P (40 % basal N, K and P of RDF + 20% N and K each at 30, 45 and 60 DAP +60 % P at 30 DAP ) [ Application of recommendation dose of fertilizers according to Fertilizer Recommendation Guide ( FRG),2018 ] were placed in the main plot and Factor B. Different irrigation frequency (3) viz: I 1 3 = Three irrigation (20, 30 and 60 DAP), I = Four irrigation (20, 30, 45 and 60 DAP) and I 3 2 1 = Five irrigation (20, 30, 45, 60 and 75 DAP) were placed in the sub-plot. Among different treatment of fertilizer application frequencies, the F treatment produced the highest tuber yield (21.89 t ha -1 ), specific gravity (1.084 g cm -3 3 ), starch content (13.90 %), as well as the highest yield of graded A (0.40 %) and B (29.56 %) of potatoes. Regarding various irrigation frequencies, the highest tuber yield plant -1 (296.47 g), tuber yield (22.48 t ha -1 ), starch content (13.90 %), highest dry matter content of tuber (19.80 %), and highest graded A (0.53%) and B (30.84 %) type of potato yield were all found in the I 2 treatment. In terms of combination results, the F 3 I treatment combination showed the best results, recording the highest tuber yield (23.50 t ha 2 -1 ), starch content (13.90 %), dry matter content tuber -1 (20.80 %), starch content (14.80 %) and yielding the highest A (0.72 %) and B (32.13%) graded of potatoes. Therefore, it was indicated that cultivation of potato through application of recommendation dose of fertilizer through split 3 times: N, K and 2 times P (F 3 ) combined with four irrigation (20, 30,45 and 60 DAP) (I ) would help to enhanced yield and qualities of potatoes.