Response of Indian Potato Varieties to Nitrogen Fertilization Regarding Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Tuber Yield

Abstract

One of the major challenges for potato producers is to maximize its yield and quality by properly managing the nitrogen fertilization. An experiment was conducted under North-Western Indian conditions during two consecutive years with two potato varieties, i.e. Kufri Surya and Kufri Sadabahar under five nitrogen levels (0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 kg/ha) in a randomized block design (factorial) with three replications. The results revealed that most of the growth parameters and NPK uptake by haulms were maximum at 300 kg/ha nitrogen level that was statistically at par with nitrogen level 225 kg/ha, while for yield parameters and NPK uptake by tubers, nitrogen level 225 kg/ha was the best with the highest value. It depicts that crop yield parameters are negatively affected by the nitrogen dose of above 225 kg/ha. So far the variety is concerned, Kufri Sadabahar was significantly better for all the noted growth and yield parameters as well as NPK uptake by tubers and haulms than the variety Kufri Surya. Regarding the soil fertility behaviour after harvest of the crop, higher left over nitrogen in soil was recorded for the highest applied nitrogen dose, whereas phosphorus and potassium left over in soil was recorded more where no nitrogen was applied (control plot), which was closely followed by 75 kg/ha nitrogen level. The results provide useful recommendations for the improvement of nitrogen fertilization rate for these two varieties in sub-tropical region of north western India in Haryana state.