Response of Potato Crop to Integrated Nutrient Management in the Indo-Gangetic Alluvial Soils of West Bengal, India

A field experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on nutrient uptake and yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in the Gangetic alluvium belt of West Bengal during two consecutive years i.e. 2011-12 to 2012-13. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Different levels and combinations of organic (crop residue, farm yard manure and bio-fertilizer) and chemical fertilizers were tested. Plots receiving only organic manures reported least amount of nutrient uptake (36.00-44.65, 7.57-11.0 and 44.66-72.66 kg·ha-1 for N, P and K respectively). The nutrient uptake was significantly higher when chemical fertilizers were applied. Maximum response was found (up-to 161, 221 and 354% increment for N, P and K respectively compared to control) when different sources were combined together. Strong correlation has been found between nutrient uptake, tuber dry weight, specific gravity, ascorbic acid and reducing sugar content suggesting role of nutrients uptake on tuber yield and quality. With increasing nutrient uptake, up to 80% increment in yield was found from those plots. It was noted from our experiment that sole use of organics was not effective enough for supplying nutrients. However, the integration of organic fertilizers with chemical ones had significantly improved soil and crop health, providing better crop yield and quality.