Increasing Potato Productivity and Profitability with an Integrated Production System

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important crop of the Western Himalayas. However, its productivity is low due to imbalanced fertilizer use. Studies were carried out to enhance yield and profitability of potato through integrated production system. Trials were conducted for two summer seasons in 2003 and 2004 in farmers' fields potato in dry, temperate, region (Lahaul Valley) of Himachal Pradesh, India. The effect of synthetic macro- and micronutrients along with organic manure and microorganisms (Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria and Azotobacter) was observed on yield, profitability, concentration of nutrients in plant and quality of potato. The effect on soil status was also assessed after harvest. Tuber yield and profit increased by 34.1 and 31.5%, respectively, with the combined use of fertilizers and organic manure as compare to farmer's practice. Soil status was improved after harvest and concentrations of nutrients increased with use of a mix of synthetic fertilizer, organic manure, and microorganisms at different stages.