INFLUENCE OF UREA FORMS AND BIOCHAR LEVELS ON YIELD AND PROCESSING QUALITY OF POTATO

Abstract

The experiment conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University's farm, Dhaka to study the influence of urea forms and biochar levels on yield and processing quality of potato during November 2019 to March 2020. The experiment consisted of two factors viz., Factor A: Urea forms (2): 1. Prilled Urea (Up: 350 kg ha ii

-1 ), 2. Urea Super Granule (U S : 350 kg ha -1 ), and Factor B: Biochar levels (6): 1. B 0 - Control, 2. B 1 - 2 t ha - 4 t ha -1 , 4. B 3 - 6 t ha -1 , 5. B 4 -8 t ha -1 , and 6. B 5 - 10 t ha -1 . The experiment was laid out in a Split Plot Design with three replications. Data were recorded on different growth, yield and quality attributes of potato. Results revealed that, urea forms and biochar levels had significant influence on most of the growth, yield and quality parameters of potato. In case of urea forms, maximum period for maturity (required 104 days), number of tuber hill -1 (8.79), average tuber weight (38.74 g), tuber yield (34.08 t ha -1 ), yield of marketable potato (32.37 t ha -1 ), firmness of tuber (37.46 N), dry matter content of tuber (20.167 %) and total antioxidant (454.56 Trolox µM 100 g -1 FW) were observed in Urea Super Granule (U ) treatment. In respect of biochar levels, maximum period for maturity (required 100.33 days), number of tuber hill S -1 (9.22), average tuber weight (41.69 g), tuber yield (35.48 t ha -1 ), yield of marketable potato (34.01 t ha treatment which was statistically similar with B 4 -1 -1 , 3. B ) were observed in B treatment. The dry matter content of tuber (21.30 %), polyphenol (83.32 mg GA 100 g -1 FW) of potato, starch (15.3 %) and total antioxidant (502.01 Trolox µM 100 g -1 FW) were found maximum in B treatment. Regarding combined effect, the maximum period for maturity (106.67 days), number of tuber hill -1 (9.54), average tuber weight (44.96 g), tuber yield (37.98 t ha ), yield of marketable potato (36.5 t ha -1 ) were observed from U S B combination which was statistically similar with U S B 4 5 . The maximum dry matter content of tuber (21.80 %), polyphenol (GA mg 100 g -1 FW) of potato (87.52), starch of potato (15.9 %) and total antioxidant of potato (509.23 Trolox µM 100 g -1 combination. Although, the application of Urea Super Granule (U 4 -1 FW) were exhibited from U S ) along with 8 t ha of biochar (B ) application showed the best performance irrespective of yield and quality parameters but the application of Urea Super Granule (U 4 S ) and 4 t ha -1 biochar (B ) also satisfied the International processing standard i.e., >20% dry matter, > 1.05 g cc specific gravity and minimum reducing sugar (<0.3 mg g -1 FW). So, Bangladeshi potato farmers may apply Urea Super Granule (350 kg ha -1 ) and 4 t ha -1 of biochar along with recommended dose of other inorganic fertilizers for producing processing quality potato without sacrificing yield.