Impact of Planting Density and RDF Levels on Growth, Yield, and Seed Tuber Production of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

The goal of the current study is to maximize the effects of planting density and NPK rate on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) growth, yield, and seed tuber production. During the Rabi season of 2016–17, a field experiment was conducted at the Agriculture Farm of IFTM University, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh (India), repeating each treatment into three blocks using a Randomized Block Design. The potato variety, ‘Kufri Chipsona-1’ was grown in plots i.e. 7.5 m2 taking seed size (2.5 cm - 3.0 cm) of grade 'C' and finally harvested after 100 days of sowing. Nine treatments were consisted of three levels of planting density at 40 cm × 20 cm, 30 cm × 15 cm, 20 cm × 10 cm and three levels of RDF (recommended dose of fertilizers) i.e. 100% RDF (NPK @ 120: 100: 100 kg ha-1), 50% RDF, and 25% RDF. The grades of tuber size as well as other growth and yield metrics were noted in the observations. The findings showed that plant height, number of tubers/plant, weight, size, and yield all significantly increase with relatively modest planting density. Similarly, these characters were significantly affected by reduced levels of RDF. Maximum medium and small size tubers, 'B' grade (22.31%) and 'C' grade (25.90%) were obtained with spacing of 40 cm × 20 cm and 30 cm × 15 cm, respectively. Higher percentage of seed grade tubers were obtained by the 50% reduction of RDF. Treatment, T2 (40 cm × 20 cm @ 50% RDF) had the highest net return (Rs. 100591.83 ha-1) and the B: C ratio (1.09). It can be suggested from the findings that a plant spacing of 40cm×20cm and 50%RDF level might be the most remunerative for seed tuber production in potato crop.