Abstract

A.S. Sandhu, S.P. Sharma, R.D. Bhutani and S.C. Khurana

Potato is a high input intensive and a shallow rooted crop which requires an efficient cropping management to ensure adequate nutrient uptake to attain optimum crop growth. The experiment was conducted with four planting dates (22ndOctober, 1st , 11thand 21stNovember) and four fertilizer rates viz. 75, 100, 125and 150% of recommended fertilizer dose (RFD; 150:50:100 kg ha-1 of NPK) in the region for optimum productivity in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data was recorded on plant height, leaf, and stem weight, and leaf area index and NPK uptake. Planting date had significant effect on all vegetative characteristics and recorded the highest values at 1 st November planting date and lowest in 21st November planting date. Maximum uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium by leaves, stems and tubers was also observed at 1st November planting date. Plant height, leaf area index, leaf and stem weight increased with increase in fertilizer dose. Thus, the results of this study suggested that optimum planting time (1st November) is very critical for maximum nutrient uptake of the applied fertilizer dose to the potato crop under semi-arid conditions.