Productivity, nutrient uptake and quality of popcorn and potato in relation to organic nutrient management practices

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to study the quality parameters and nutrient uptake in pop corn

- potato cropping sequence as influenced by various levels and sources of nutrients. Results revealed

that the highest N, P and K content in grain and stover, total N, P and K uptake, protein content in

grain, shelling and popping percentage in pop corn were recorded in the treatment receiving RDF,

Recommended dose of fertilizers (N120P25K35kg/ha), which were statistically at par with vermicompost

and farm yard manure at both levels of nitrogen (equivalent to 120 and 90 kg N/ha). However, leaf

compost proved to be the poorest source in terms of total uptake of NPK nutrients. The highest N,

P and K content and total nutrient uptake in potato tuber and haulms and specific gravity of tubers

were recorded in the plots with residual fertility of 120 kg N/ha through FYM, which was at par to

120 kg N/ha through vermicompost. Application of FYM (equivalent to 90 kg N/ha) to potato led

to significantly higher nutrient content and total N, P and K uptake in tuber and haulms and specific

gravity of tubers during both the years.