Nitrogen and sulphur role in potato (Solanum tuberosum ) nutrition on brown hill soil of Shimla

Abstract

A field study was conducted at Kufri (Shimla) during 1991 and 1992 to evaluate the effect of N and S on potato
(Solanum tuberosum L.). The results revealed a significant response to N and S in potato. The optimum N dose varied from
143-173 kg/ha with potato tuber yield response ranging from 18 to 25 tonnes/ha, whereas optimum sulphur dose
varied from 21 to 30 kg S/ha with yield response of 5 to 8 tonnes/ha. Interaction between N and S was non-significantin
terms of potato tuber yield, however the combined application of N and S had a positive effect on potato tuber
quality, increase in the concentration of crude protein (93.8 %), S (56.0 %), P (4.0 %) and uptake of nutrients. Increase in
N dose from 60 to 180 kg/ha decreased N recovery from 63.7 to 39.5 % but increased P recovery (14.0 %) and S
recovery (19.5 %). Similarly, S application tended to increase N recovery (25.8 %) and P recovery (7.8 %). A significant
relationship was obtained between leaf S and final tuber yield at stolon formation and tuber initiation stage.