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Phosphorus economy in potato cultivation by soaking mother seed tubers in a solution of urea and phosphate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. C. Sharma
Affiliation:
Central Potato Research Institute, Simla-171001, India
T. S. Sahota
Affiliation:
Central Potato Research Institute, Simla-171001, India
U. C. Sharma
Affiliation:
Central Potato Research Institute, Simla-171001, India
A. K. Sharma
Affiliation:
Central Potato Research Institute, Simla-171001, India

Summary

Investigations were carried out during 1976–80 on the alkaline alluvial soils of Daurala and Jullundur and on the acid hill soils of Simla and Shillong to study the effect of soaking non-dormant mother seed tubers in a solution of single superphosphate alone and in combination with urea, KCl, gum acacia and agromin (micro-nutrient mixture) on the tuber yield and P economy of the subsequent potato crop. On the alluvial soils, soaking increased the yield of daughter tubers but only on P-deficient soil. Increasing the period of soaking above 6 h and the concentration of superphosphate above 1·5% in the solution tended to reduce the emergence and tuber yield. On the acid hill soils soaking tubers for 4 h in a solution of 0·5% urea + 1·5% single superphosphate + 0·2% Dithane M-45 increased the yield of daughter tubers. Inclusion of KCl, agromin or gum acacia in the soaking solution had little effect. The increase in yield due to soaking was produced by an increase in number and size of daughter tubers and was equivalent to about 22 kg P/ha applied to soil.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

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References

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