MICROFLORA POPULATION IN RHIZOSPHERE AND QUALITY OF POTATO AS INFLUENCED BY WEED MANAGEMENT

Abstract

To find out the effect of weed management on yield, quality and microflora population in the rhizosphere of potato, a field experiment was carried out at the Kalyani ‘C’ Block Farm (In check) of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, during two consecutive rabi seasons (2009-10 and 2010-11). Among the different weed management treatments, oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC @ 400 g a.i. / ha recorded minimum weed population as well as biomass. Potato tuber yield was maximum in weed free check (31.388 t / ha) which was statistically at par with oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC @ 400 g a.i. / ha (31.17 t / ha), oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC @ 300 g a.i. / ha (29.605 t / ha) and oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC @ 200 g a.i. / ha (29.294 t / ha). Similar trends were recorded in case of potato reducing sugar % whereas reverse trends were followed in case of Starch %, Protein % and ascorbic acid (mg /100 g) content. No phytotoxicity in potato plants was observed in any of the herbicidal treatment plot. Though herbicides decreased the micro-flora population initially but there was no detrimental effect in the long run basis.