Growth dynamics of potato as influenced by trickle fertigation options

In a two year field experiment on trickle fertigation of potato laid out in a split split plot design, effect of three variables viz. fertilizer application rate, frequency of fertigation and wetted soil volume, each having three levels was studied. Urea was applied @ 30, 60 and 100 per cent of the recommended post-planting dose (304 kg ha⁻¹). The maximum leaf area index of 2.48 and dry matter accumulation of 18.98 g plant⁻¹ were observed in a treatment in which 100 per cent of recommended post planting dose of urea was applied at 8 days interval with 100% wetted soil volume as compared to 1.55 and 8.35, respectively for furrow crop. Trickle fertigated potato had 49, 42 and 9 per cent of A, B and C grade fresh tubers, respectively as compared to 33, 53 and 14 per cent in the furrow irrigated crop. Maximum yield of 36.3 t ha⁻¹ of fresh tubers in the trickle fertigated crop was obtained in the treatment which had maximum leaf area and dry matter accumulation as compared to an average yield of 21.5 t ha⁻¹ in the furrow irrigated but conventionally fertilized crop.