Impact of organic mulches on growth, yield and quality of potato (Solanum tuberosum L) in Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to assess the impact of organic mulches on growth, yield and quality of potato at the research farm of College of Agriculture, Indore, Madhya Pradesh during rabi season of 2020-2021. The experiment was conducted in RBD with 3 replications. Nine treatments viz T0 [Control (non-mulch)], T1 (Paddy straw 2.5 cm), T2 (Paddy straw 5.0 cm), T3 (Wheat straw 2.5 cm), T4 (Wheat straw 5.0 cm), T5 (Soybean straw 2.5 cm), T6 (Soybean straw 5.0 cm), T7 (Vermicompost 2.5 cm) and T8 (Sawdust 2.5 cm) were used to find out the best materials that could help the farmers to improve their crop production. The results revealed that growth parameters like plant height (30.58 and 29.71 cm), number of branches/plant (15.77 and 14.66), number of leaves/plant (51.66 and 50.21), fresh weight of leaves/plant (57.41 and 56.61 g), dry weight of leaves/plant (5.50 and 5.17 g) and diameter of tubers (5.27 and 5.00 cm) were maximum in T1 (Paddy straw 2.5 cm) and T2 (Paddy straw 5.0 cm) respectively, whereas, leaf area (305.04 cm2), leaf area index (3.05), weight of tubers/plant (747.00 g), yield of tubers/ha (373.52 q) and TSS (7.50°Brix) were maximum in T1 . The same treatment, T1 also resulted in maximum net profit/ha (Rs 4,06,474) and B-C ratio (1:2.64). Among the treatments, T8 (Sawdust 2.5 cm) was the poorest performer.