INFLUENCE OF VERMICOMPOST ON GROWTH, YIELD AND PROCESSING QUALITY OF POTATO VARIETIES

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy research field, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka from November 01, 2014 to April 30, 2015 to find out the effect of 4 different vermicompost (Vm) levels viz., Vm 1 ), Vm 3 – (4 t ha -1 ) and Vm 4 – (6 t ha -1 1 - (control), Vm ) on growth, yield and quality of 4 potato varieties viz., V 1 -BARI TPS-1, V 2 - BARI Alu-28 (Lady Rosetta), V - BARI Alu-29 (Courage), V - BARI Alu-25 (Asterix). The experiment was conducted in spilt plot Design with 3 replications. The different levels of vermicompost had significant effect on most of the growth, yield and quality contributing parameters of potato irrespective of varieties. All parameters studied in this experiment were increased with the increasing vermicompost levels except water percentage. The variety „BARI Alu-28‟ produced maximum yield (28.89 t ha 4 -1 ) whereas, „BARI TPS-1‟ showed minimum yield (22.95 t ha -1 ) irrespective of vermicompost levels and other growth, yield and processing characters also influenced by the different varieties. The results also revealed that the yield of potato varieties were increased with increasing vermicompost levels. „BARI Alu-28‟ cultivated with vermicompost 6 t ha performed the best results and the same variety with 4 t ha -1 also showed the statistically similar results in terms of growth, most of the yield and quality parameters. Among the 16 treatment combination maximum tuber weight (57.18 g) was produced in V and the variety Lady Rosetta produced

highest yield (33.86 t ha -1 ), highest marketable yield (28.78 t ha -1 ) and also produced maximum seed tuber (25.40 t ha ) when cultivated with 6 t ha -1 vermicompost. Incase of dry matter, reducing sugar and starch content, Lady Rosetta showed the best performance compared to those other varieties when 6 t ha -1 vermicompost was applied.

3 -1 2 2 - (2 t ha Vm -1 4, -