Response of 'Kufri Megha' potato (Solanum tuberosum) to nitrogen, phosphorus and their interaction in acidic soils of Meghalaya

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the summer seasons of 1990 and 1991 to study the response of 'Kufri Megha'potato (Solanum (tuberosum L.) to N and P in acidic soils. The variety under north-eastern hill conditions was tested at different combinations of 4 levels of N (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg/ha) and 4 levels of P (0, 35, 70 and 105 kg/ha). Being a long -duration variety, its responslllO P was higher compared wjth the other rvarieties ('Kufri jyoti'). The highest tuber yield (20.1 tonnes/ha)was obtained with the application of 100 kg N + 70 kg P/ha. The optimum doses of N and P were 129 and 90 kg/ha respectively. The interaction between the 2 nutrients was significanL The uptake of N increased signllicantly up to 100 kg N/ha with 70 kg P/ha. However, significant uptake of P was observed up to 105 kg P/ha with 100 kg N/ha. Tubers accounted for 83% of the N and P uptake: the haulms aCCOW1ting forthe rest. The mean recovery of applied N and P was 38.3 and 7.1 % respectively.