Assessment of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Performance for Yield and Quality Production under Natural Farming System in Gird Region of Madhya Pradesh, India

Objective of the Study: To assess the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) performance for yield and quality production under natural farming system in gird region of Madhya Pradesh.

Study Design: Randomized complete block design.

Place and Duration of Study: ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute- RS, research farm Gwalior during winter (Rabi) season of 2022-2023.

Methodology: Selected 5 plants from each treatment and replicated 3 times. Then follows methods as per given in materials and methods section of paper. Treatments T1: Control, T2: Inorganic practices (standard technology), T3: NADEP compost @ 25 t/ha + Azotobacter @ 1L/ha + PSB (Phosphorus solublizing bacteria) @ 1L/ha, T4: T3+ FYM @ 25 t/ha, T5: T3 + Vermicompost @ 7.5 t/ha, T6: T3+ neem cake @ 5 t/ha + foliar spray of copper oxychloride @ 3 g/L, T7: Integrated practice [90% RDF through inorganic sources {urea, SSP, MOP}, 10% RDF through organic sources i.e., FYM @ 25 t/ha.

Results: Results revealed that maximum number of tubers (135.03, 144.598 and 245.344) for grade 25-50 g, 50-75 g and >75 g respectively, highest number of tubers per ha (591286 at harvest), maximum yield of tubers (6.75, 10.844 and 18.40 t/ha) for grade 25-50 g, 50-75 g and >75 g respectively, highest yield of tubers (37.665 t/ha), highest true density of tubers (1.123 g/cc), highest tuber dry matter (17.173%) and highest starch content (14.313%) were recorded in treatment T7. While, the maximum number of tubers (129.08) for grade (0-25 g) and, maximum yield of tubers (3.2098 t/ha) for grade (0-25 g) was found in control plot.

Conclusion: Among 7 treatments, T7- Integrated practice (90% inorganic practices, 10% organic) found better for number of tubers in different grades, yield of tubers in different grades, total tuber yield (t/ha) and for quality parameters e.i., True density (g/cc), Tuber dry matter (%) and Tuber starch content (%).