EFFECT OF MULCHING ON POTATO PRODUCTION IN HIGH ALTITUDE COLD ARID ZONE OF LADAKH

Abstract

The study was carried out at the research farm of Field Research Laboratory, Leh (Ladakh) during 2002 and 2003 to determine the effect of polythene mulching on growth and yield of different potato cultivars. It comprised combinations of two potato cultivars (Kufri Jyoti and Kufri Chandramukhi) and three mulching treatments (no mulching, white polythene and black polythene mulching). Mulching had significant influence on potato growth and yield. Emergence, plant height, and number of stems improved with black polythene mulching. Kufri Chandramukhi was superior to Kufri Jyoti in growth parameters. Maximum tuber yield (35.2 t/ha) was recorded with black polythene mulching followed by white polythene. Kufri Chandramukhi produced significantly higher tuber yield (32.5 t/ha) than Kufri Jyoti (29.7 t/ha).