Performance of potato variety Kufri Megha under different irrigation scheduling and date of planting at North Eastern Indian mid hills

Abstract

Aim: To assess the performance of winter potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) variety Kufri Megha, under real time based irrigation scheduling, i.e., ratio of depth of irrigation water to cumulative pan evaporation in mid hills of Meghalaya during winter season of 2016-17. Methodology: A field trial with three different irrigation scheduling as main-treatments, viz., IW: CPE- 0.75 (I1), IW: CPE- 1.00 (I2) and IW: CPE- 1.25 (I3), four different dates of planting, viz., 1st November (D1), 11th November (D1), 21st November (D3) and 1st December (D4) was laid out and replicated thrice. Irrigation was provided with a micro sprinkler irrigation system and was laid out in split plot design. Results: The plants planted on 11th November and irrigation scheduled at IW: CPE-1.25 recorded higher values for plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation per plant, net assimilation ratio, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, tuber yield (t ha-1), haulm yield (t ha-1), harvest index (%), water use efficiency and benefit cost ratio over other treatments. Interpretation : It can be recommended that by following climatological approach of cumulative pan evaporation for irrigation scheduling in potato using micro sprinkler method of irrigation, the crop water requirement could be met during lean period to avoid moisture stress in plants coupled with planting at the right climatic conditions.