Effect of Various Agronomic Practices on Potato Crop in Agra Region of Uttar Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2005-06 and 2006-07 at R.B.S. College Agricultural Research Farm, Bichpuri, Agra in sandy loam soil to study the effect of organic manure on growth, yield and economics of potato. The eight treatments were applied {T1-50% recommended NPK fertilizer + 50% N-FYM, T2-1/3 N-FYM+1/3 N-Vermicompost+1/3 N Neem Cake, T3 -T2 + intercropping (Radish), T4 -T2 + Agronomic practices for weed control (khurpi weeding and pest control), T5-50% N-FYM + Biofertilizer for N-Azotobactor, T6 -T2 + Biofertilizer for N-culture Azotobactor + for P-PSB, T7- 100% NPKfertilizer + secondary (Sulphur) and micro-nutrients (Zn)-soil test basis and T8- Dummy plot}. The results on pooled basis of two years revealed that the maximum shoots m1 row length and plant height (cm) were obtained with T4 (T2 + Agronomic practices for weed control) followed by T1. Significantly higher values of yield attributes viz. tuber plant1, size of tuber, weight of tuber plant1 and potato tuber yield were obtained with T4 . The next best treatment in these regard was T1 and superiority of this treatment was noted over T5 , T6 , T7 and T8. Maximum tuber yield (236.54 q/ha) was recorded with the treatment of T4 at par with T1. The tubers under this treatment had highest protein content (9.92). On the basis of economics of crop cultivation, treatment T4 and T1 were found more cost-effective than other treatments