EFFECT OF PLANTING DATES AND SPACING ON YIELD AND EXPORT QUALITY OF POTATO

Abstract

The experiment was conducted during the period of October 2018 to March 2019 in the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka to find out the effect of planting dates and spacing on yield and export quality of potato and their economy. The potato variety Lady Rosetta (BARI Alu-28) was used as test crop for this experiment. The experiment consisted of two factors: Factor A: Planting dates (4 levels) as- D 1 : October 20, D 2 : November 01, D 3 : November 10, D 4 : November 20, and Factor B: Spacing (4 levels) as- S 1 : 60 cm × 25 cm, S 2 : 60 cm × 30 cm, S 3 ii : 70 cm × 25 cm, S 4 : 70 cm × 30 cm. The two factorial experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were recorded on different growth, yield parameters, yield and quality of potato tubers and significant variation was observed for most of the studied characters due to different planting dates, spacing and their combined effects. In consideration of planting dates, the highest yield of tubers (27.69 t ha -1 ), dry matter content (19.19%), specific gravity (1.08), starch content (17.11 mg g -1 FW) and vitamin C content in potato tubers (23.62 mg 100 g -1 ) was recorded from D 2 , while the lowest was observed from D 4 . But the highest reducing sugar content (0.30 mg g -1 FW) and TSS of potato (6.35 brix) was found from D 4 , while the lowest from D 2 . For different spacing, the highest yield of tubers (27.81 t ha -1 ), dry matter content (19.46%), specific gravity (1.09), starch content (17.13 mg g -1 FW) and vitamin C content in potato tubers (23.68 mg 100 g -1 ) was found from S 1 , whereas the lowest was recorded from S 4 . On the other hand, the highest reducing sugar content in potato tubers (0.29 mg g FW) and TSS (6.32 0 brix) was found from S 4 , whereas the lowest from S 1 . Due to the combined effect of different planting dates and spacing, the highest yield of tubers (31.56 t ha -1 ), dry matter content (20.94%), specific gravity (1.13), starch content (18.60 mg g -1 FW) and highest vitamin C content in potato tubers (26.11 mg 100 g -1 ) was recorded from D 2 S 1 , while the lowest from D 4 S 4 . So, November 01 planting date and 60 cm × 25 cm spacing showed best performance when considered the growth, yield parameters, yield and quality of potato tubers.