EFFECT OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF POTATO UNDER RAINFED CONDITIONS OF CENTRAL HIMALAYAN REGION OF UTTARAKHAND

Abstract

effect of different organic fertilizers was studied on potato yield and other quality attributes for three yearsV(2007-2009) under rainfed conditions of central Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. The soil of the area is classified under Alfisol order. Though the yield and other traits were significantly higher in conjoint use of nutrients than organic fertilizers but among the organic fertilizers, chicken manure + biofertilizers resulted in maximum plant height (70.73 cm), highest number of tubers (7.5 /plant), highest yield of large sized tubers (40 %), total yield (18.86 t/ha), highest uptake of nutrients (N:P:K: 82.1:18.0:91.2 kg/ha), maximum dry matter (20.06 %), specific gravity (1.06), protein (8.39 %), starch (10.76 %), ascorbic acid (21.73 mg/100g) and minimum reducing sugars (0.30 %). The highest B:C ratio (4.86) was also obtained for conjoint use of fertilizers and manures followed by the treatment comprising chicken manure and biofertilizers (2.30).