EFFICIENCY OF SOIL SOLARIZATION IN REDUCING TUBER RUSSET AND IMPROVING YIELD OF DIFFERENT POTATO CULTIVARS

Abstract

Effect of soil solarization in reducing potato russet and improving yield in 15 varieties was studied. Russet incidence was reduced to about 40% in potato varieties except in Kufri Sindhuri, Kufri Sherpa, Kufri Lalima, Kufri Badshah and Kufri Jyoti which recorded reduction between 14.9 to 34.7% over unsolarized soil. Russet incidence in unsolarized soil, in different varieties varied from 4% in cv. Kufri Pukhraj to 99.7% in cv. Kufri Sherpa. Severity (DI) of russet was however, reduced to more than 40% in all varieties except cv. Kufri Sindhuri. Highest reduction of 80% in potato russet incidence and 88.3% in severity (DI) was recorded in cv. Kufri Ashoka. Solarization on an average recorded 26.8% increase in tuber yield. The increase in most of the varieties, was between 16-40 per cent.