Effect of supplemental potassium application on growth and yield of potato cultivars

Abstract

A trail was carried out to evaluate the effect of supplemental potassium application on growth and yield of potato cultivars at Horticulture Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during winter season, 2014. The experiment was laid out on Randomized Complete Block Design, with split plot arrangement, using three replications. Potassium was kept in main plot while potato cultivars were kept in subplot. Four levels of supplemental potassium (0, 50, 75, 100 kg ha-1 ) were allotted to main plots, whereas sub plot factor consisted of potato cultivars (Rocko, Kuroda and Asterix). The supplemental potassium levels significantly influenced the growth and yield of potato cultivars. The maximum values for growth variables; plant height (45.82 cm) and survival percentage (89.56 %) and yield variables; number of small tubers plant-1 (4.56), number of medium tubers plant-1 (4.11), number of large tubers plant-1 (4.56), tuber weight plant-1 (463.67), yield (21.65 tons ha-1) were found in plot treated with supplemental potassium applied @ 75 kg ha-1. Among cultivars, the maximum values for growth variables; plant height (45.33 cm) and survival percentage (85.30 %) and yield variables; number of small tubers plant-1 (3.92), number of medium tubers plant-1 (3.33), number of large tubers plant-1 (3.83), tuber weight plant-1 (451.17), yield (21.15 tons ha-1 ) were found in cultivar Kuroda. Interaction between supplemental potassium levels and potato cultivars was found non-significant. Supplemental potassium should be applied @ of 75 kg ha-1 to potato crop. Among tested cultivars, the cultivar Kuroda showed better growth and yield under the agro-climatic region of Peshawar.