EFFECT OF FYM, BIOFERTILIZER AND INORGANIC FERTILIZER ON POTATO

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Hisar to study the combined effect of FYM, biofertilizer and inorganic fertilizer on potato. Well-sprouted tubers of cv. Kufri Bahar were planted in the last week of October and haulm cutting was done at 105 days after planting. Treatments consisted of combinations of 75 and 100% of recommended dose of NPK (N:P:K; 150:80:100kg/ha) with control, FYM @20t/ha and biofertilizers. For biofertilizer, tubers were treated with Azotobacter and phophobacteria before planting. Treating of seed tubers with biofertilizer significantly improved total tuber yield, yield of large size tubers and tuber number, during both the years and at both the doses of fertilizers, however improvement was more at 75% recommended dose of NPK. Biofertilizers also improved net return at both the doses of fertilizers. FYM @ 20t/ha in addition to inorganic fertilizer significantly improved total tuber yield, yield of large size tubers and tuber number during both the years and at both the doses of fertilizers. FYM also improved the net return at both the doses of fertilizers and during both the years. Reducing the recommended dose of NPK by 25% significantly reduced total tuber yield, yield of large size tubers, tuber number and net return. It may be concluded that in potato, it is beneficial to treat seed tubers with biofertilizers(Azotobacter and phosphobacteria) and add FYM @ 20t/ha every year in addition to recommended dose of NPK.