Influence of irrigation and mulch on growth, yield and economics of potato

The field experiments were conducted during Autumn and rabi seasons of two consecutive years i.e. 2005–06 and 2006–07 at CPRI Campus, Modipuram, Meerut (UP), on light textured (Typic-Ustrocrept) soils to study the influence of irrigation and mulch on growth, yield and economics of potato. Results revealed that the irrigation given to all furrows with paddy straw mulch @ 5 t ha−1 produced significantly higher tuber yield (295 q ha−1) as well as tuber numbers (605 thousands ha−1) in comparison to other treatments tried in main crop season. However, the differences between the yield produced by irrigation applied to all furrows and irrigations given at critical crop growth stages (PE, SF, TI, ETES & LTES) with mulch were non significant. In early crop of potato, the irrigation applied at 20 mm CPE with paddy straw mulch @ 5 t ha−1 gave significantly higher total yield (170 q ha−1) than other irrigation treatments. The tuber yield and numbers were higher under mulch in comparison to without mulch. The application of paddy straw mulch @ 5 t ha−1 saved 25% irrigation water and also found economical, which gave maximum net income of Rs. 27, 297/-ha−1 and higher benefit: cost ratio of 1.67 at 70 days crop harvest than other treatments. The potato cv. Kufri Pukhraj gave significantly higher yield (184 q ha−1), net return (Rs. 34,682/-ha−1) and maximum benefit: cost ratio of 1.89 in comparison to other varieties tried in early season.