Effect of potassium and sowing time on potato yield and quality

The current study was conducted the effect of sowing time and different doses of a potassium supplement on yield attributes of potato at Gollen valley Chitral, the Northern Pakistan during summer 2018. Sowing Potato (cv. Roko) commenced from 5thMay and continued till 5thJune keeping an interval of 15 days among sowing times. Potassium (K) was applied at the rate of 100, 150, 200 and 250 kg ha-1 as potassium chloride. Basal doses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were applied at the rate 120 and 100 kg ha-1 respectively, as urea and DAP. All yield attributes like number of leaves per plant, plant height, the number of tubers per plant, tuber volume and yield of potato were higher for May 5th (early sowing date) with potassium dose of 200 kg ha-1. Interaction of sowing dates and Potassium (SD×K) for yield, tuber volume and soil potassium content was statistically significant (P≤0.05). The study showed that by delaying the sowing season, yield traits and yield of potato decreased significantly; hence early cultivation and K fertilization of 200 kg ha-1 resulted in maximum production of potato as well as improved soil properties under agroclimatic conditions of the region which is dry temperate zone of Pakistan.