1Central Potato Research InstituteShimla(Himachal Pradesh)
2Project Directorate for Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, Meerut(Uttar Pradesh)
Central Potato Research Institute Campus, Modipuram, Meerut(Uttar Pradesh)
Field studies were conducted uring rabi season of 2003-2007 on light textured (Typic-Ustocrept) soils at CPRIC, Modipuram, Meerut (UP) to study the effect of raised bed planting patterns and drip layout systems on yietd and economics of potato. Results revealed that the total yield (363 q/ha) and tuber numbers (709 thous/ha) were significantly higher in triple row planting with 1,25,000 plant density/ha along with single drip placed at 120 cm distance on each bed in comparison to furrow irrigation method (283 q potatoes and 586 thous. tubers/ha). Similarly, the medium/seed size tuber yield (230 q/ha) was also maximum in triple row bed planting under drip irrigation. However, the yield of large grade tubers (148 q/ha) and average tuber weight (55.8 g) were observed maximum under single row panting with 83,333 plant density/ha when drip placed at 60 cm distance on each rfdge. Plant height and number of leaves/plant were significantly higher under drip irrigated crop, but, the number of stems/plant did not differ significantly. The triple row planting with 1,25,000 plants/ha along with single drip placed at 120 cm spacing on each bed gave maximum net return of Rs. 32,377/ha closely followed by paired row planting with 1,11,111 plants/ha along with single drip placed at 90 cm spacing on each bed (Rs. 31,181/ha) in comparison to furrow irrigation which gave net return of Rs. 24,014/ha and B:C ratio of 1:58. The B:C ratio was maximum in case of paired row planting with single drip placed at 120 cm spacing on each bed as compared to other treatments. However, the benefit: cost ratio in triple row planting with 1,25,000 plants/ha was comparably lower (1.61) than double row planting due to higher seed rate used which increased cultivation cost, but produced significantly higher seed size tuber yield and numbers under drip irrigation. Water use efficiency (157 kg potatoes/ha-mm) and partial factor productivity of fertilizer nutrients (101 kg potatoes/kg NPK) were higher under triple row planting with 1,25,000 plants/ha along with the single drip placed at 120 cm spacing on each bed in comparison to other planting pattern and drip layout systems.
Drip layout system, economics, fertigation, growth parameters, potato, partial factor productivity, raised bed planting, water use efficiency, yield.
