Response of Potato Varieties to Nitrogen Fertilization for Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake

Abstract Maximizing potato yields and quality while minimizing nitrogen loss is a major challenge for potato producers. It is crucial to use nitrogen fertilizer for the plant growth, both economically and environmentally. A similar experiment was conducted in India for two years to investigate the response of potato varieties to nitrogen fertilization, and for this study two potato varieties, i.e., Kufri Surya and Kufri Sadabahar and five nitrogen levels (0, 75, 150, 225 and 300 kg/ha) were carried out in a randomized block design (factorial) with three replications. The results reveal that most of the growth parameters and NPK uptake by haulms showed maximum value at nitrogen 300 kg/ha closely followed by the nitrogen dose 225 kg/ha, while for yield parameters and NPK uptake by tubers, nitrogen level 225 kg/ha was the best with the highest value. It depicts that crop yield parameters are negatively affected by the nitrogen dose of above 225 kg/ha. So far the variety is concerned, Kufri Sadabahar was significantly better for all the noted growth and yield parameters as well as NPK uptake by tubers and haulms than the variety Kufri Surya. As far concern about the soil fertility behavior after harvest of the crop, higher left over nitrogen in soil was recorded for the highest applied nitrogen dose, whereas, phosphorus and potassium left over in soil was recorded more where no nitrogen was applied, which was closely followed by 75 kg/ha nitrogen level. The results provide useful recommendations for the improvement of nitrogen fertilization rate for these two varieties in sub-tropical region of north western India in Haryana state.