Effect of cropping system and nutrient management practices on potato based cropping systems under north eastern hill region of India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during summer and autumn season of the year 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 at Central Potato Research Station, Shillong, Meghalaya to find out the best cropping system and nutrient management practices on potato under Meghalaya agro-ecological condition. There were four cropping system viz; Potato-cauliflower, Potato –french bean, Potato-cabbage, Potato-radish considered as a main plot and five nutrient management practices viz; Control (Without any fertilizer) to potato and subsequent crop, 100% RDF to potato and subsequent crop, 50% RDN-FYM + 50% RDF to potato and 75% RDF to subsequent crop, 25% RDN-FYM +50% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB to potato and 50% RDF to subsequent crop, 50% RDN-FYM + 25% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB to potato and 50% RDF to subsequent crop considered as a sub plot which replicated three times under split plot design. During the 1st year (2016-17) it was observed that among the cropping system potato-cabbage give highest potato equivalent yield (30.01 t/ha) followed by potato-radish cropping system which give 28.86 t/ha potato equivalent yield. Among the nutrient management practices 25% RDN-FYM + 50% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB to potato and 50% RDF to subsequent crop give highest potato equivalent yield (27.95 t/ha) followed by 50% RDN-FYM + 50% RDF to potato and 75% RDF to subsequent crop which give 27.59 t/ha potato equivalent yield over rest of the treatments. During the 2nd year (2017-18) it was observed that among the cropping system potato-cabbage give highest potato equivalent yield (28.69 t/ha) followed by potato-radish cropping system which give 27.65 t/ha potato equivalent yield. Among the nutrient management practices 25% RDN-FYM + 50% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB to potato and 50% RDF to subsequent crop give highest potato equivalent yield (28.14 t/ha) followed by 50% RDN-FYM + 50% RDF to potato and 75% RDF to subsequent crop which give 27.84 t/ha potato equivalent yield over rest of the treatments.