Assessment of harvest index and nutrient-conservation in potato via foliar nutrition

Abstract

The major nutrients viz., N, P and K are supplied to the crop through soil application which decreases the nutrient uptake efficacy due to various losses and fixation in soil. Hence, a study was carried out in order to explore the response of foliar nutrients on harvest index and conserved nutrients of potato (cv. Kufri Surya) at Vegetable Research Centre of GBPUA&T, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand during rabi season of 2017-18. The experiment having eleven treatments with replicated four times. The results indicated that there was an increase in harvest index with the foliar feeding and maximum harvest index (83.82 %) was observed in treatment T8, which is 5.9% more harvest index than T1 (100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer). The maximum value of nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) content and uptake by haulms, tubers and plants was obtained from different foliar treatments, whereas, treatment T11 (75% N of RDF as basal + 2% foliar spray of 20:20:20 water soluble fertilizer at 30 & 45 DAP) was recorded 24.91%, 37.93% and 33.46% more nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake in tubers over than recommended practices, respectively. The conclusion comes out from this experiment that, application technique of foliar nutrients significantly affected the harvest index and nutrient uptake by haulms, tubers and plants of potato.