Research Paper

Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences

7(1): 036-039, January-February (2016)
ISSN: 0976-1675 https:// www.rjas.org DI: 2639-2505-2015-009

Effect of Different Spacing and Foliar Spray of Nutrients on Yield and Quality
of Potato Tubers (Solanum tuberosum)
Ganesh Pawar, Chandra Pandey* and A Harshavardhan Reddy*
Depertment of Agriculture,
Lovely Professional University, National Highway 1, Phagwara - 144 411, Punjab, India
*Depertment of Agriculture, DAV University, National Highway NH 44, Jalandhar - 144 012, Punjab, India
e-mail: [email protected]

Received: 25 May 2015; Revised accepted: 23 December 2015

ABSTRACT
Present experiment was laid out in split plot design consisting of treatment combinations with spacing as one
factor and foliar sprays of nutrients as another factor. Spacing of 60 × 20 cm resulted in maximum tuber yield
(195.01 q/ha) and marketable yield (158.72 q/ha). Spacing of 60 × 40 cm (M3) recorded maximum ash content
o
(0.744 gm), starch content (15.6%), pH (3.683), specific gravity (0.826) and TSS (2.675 Brix), non-reducing sugar
(0.610%) and total sugar (0.698%). Among the various foliar application of nutrients, ZnSo 4 @ 8.5 kg/ha resulted in
maximum tuber yield (182.34 q/ha), marketable yield (152.87 q/ha), total sugar (0.696%), ash content (0.718 gm),
o
pH (3.67), starch (15.73%), specific gravity (0.83) and TSS (2.52 Brix).

Key words: Potato, Nutrients, Spacing, Tuber, Yield, Foliar spray

P otato (Solanum tuberosum) is one of the most

important and nutritious tuber crop and is grown in
several parts of the world. In terms of global production,
of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab. The
experiment consisted of 15 treatment combination with 3
spacing as one factor and 5 foliar sprays of micronutrients
potato is the fourth most important food crop after corn, rice as another factor. The experiment was laid out in split plot
and wheat. India is placed 3rd in the list of major potato design. Potato tubers were kept for 10 to 12 days under the
producing countries of the world. It produces around 423.39 diffuse light condition for sprouting. Pre sprouting of tubers
lakh tonnes of potatoes from an area of 18.63 lakh hectare help to increase the number of stem and consequently the
(Anonymous 2011). Both yield and quality of potato are crop’s final yield. Recommended dose of N, P and K
affected by cultivar, environmental conditions and cultural (180:100:150 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1) were applied to the
practices. Potato plants express their full potentiality only soil. First foliar spray of nutrients was given at 10 days after
when grown under optimum plant population/geometry, 100% emergence and second foliar spray was given after 15
congenial growth period and fertilization which help in days from first spray. All the cultural practices and
better utilization of inputs leading to good yield (Yenagi et intercultural operations were carried out as per
al. 2003). Optimum spacing helps to harvest maximum solar recommendation. For analyzing the yield parameters of the
radiation and also aids in utilization of the soil resources crop, four plants were selected randomly from the net plot
effectively by preventing overcrowding of plants and thus area in each treatment. The number of tubers per plant was
minimizing competition. Nutrient management is very calculated from same four randomly selected plants. The
essential for maximization of yield and quality. Fertilizer tubers obtained from the net plots were separated and
application has important effects on the quality and yield of weighed. Total tuber yield was computed and recorded as
Potato (Westermann 2005). Keeping this background in quintals per hectare. Tuber diameter between 40 mm to 80
view a study was initiated to know the effect of planting mm was considered as marketable, these were sorted out
geometry and foliar spray of nutrients on yield and quality after harvest with help of Vernier calipers. Then there
of potato tubers. average weight was calculated as per different treatments
and expressed as marketable yield in q/ha. The tubers below
MATERIALS AND METHODS 40 mm were considered as non-marketable and
The experiment was laid out during rabi season of the nonmarketable yield was calculated as:
year 2013-14 under irrigated condition at the research farms Non-marketable yield = Total yield – Marketable yield.

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 Pawar et al. 2016 Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences 7(1)
The per cent reducing sugar was estimated by adopting (4.76) were recorded at a spacing of 60 × 20cm (M2).
Shaffer Somogy’s micro method (Nelson 1944) and non- Similar positive effect of wider spacing on number of tubers
reducing sugars were determined as suggested by Ranganna was reported by earlier Khan et al. (2010), Gulluoglu and
(1995). The per cent total sugar was estimated by adding the Arioglu (2009) who reported that greater the spacing more is
per cent reducing sugar and per cent non reducing sugar. the number of tubers formed. In present studies, closer
Total ash content tuber samples were determined according spacing resulted in higher yield. Spacing of 60 × 20 cm (M2)
to AOAC (2000). Electronic pH meter (model: Knick 646) recorded significantly higher tuber yield per hectare (175.28
was used to determine pH values. Starch content in tubers q ha-1) while minimum (154.30 q ha-1) was recorded in
was estimated following the method suggested by Powell plants at a spacing of 60 × 40cm (M3). This increase in yield
Gains (1973). Crude fiber content of tubers samples were may be attributed to more plant density. Almost similar to
determined according to AOAC (2000). The total soluble above findings, increased yield at high plant population
solid (TSS) of harvested tubers were measured by digital were reported by Zamil et al. (2010). Marketable yield was
refractometer (model: FG 103) at room temperature and significantly affected by spacing. Maximum marketable
expressed as °Brix value. Specific gravity was calculated by yield (141.95 q ha-1) was recorded at a spacing of 60 × 30cm
weighing the cleaned tubers in air (W 1) and then completely (M1). Several contrasting effects of spacing on marketability
immersed in a container of water (W2) and was calculated of tubers have been reported. Some workers reported an
as: increase in marketability by increased spacing (Seck and
W1 Baldeh 2009) while others reported a decrease in
Specific gravity =
W1-W2 marketability with high spacing (Khalafalla 2001). Nutrient
sprays significantly affected yield parameters. Number,
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION weight and marketability of tubers were positively affected
Effect of spacing and nutrient sprays on yield parameters by nutrient sprays. Application of zinc sulphate @ 8.5 kg
Spacing as well as nutrients affected the yield per hectare (S4) resulted in highest marketable yield
parameters of potato significantly. The influence of spacing (152.87q ha-1), highest tuber yield (182.34 q ha-1) and
and micronutrients on yield parameters of potato revealed highest number of tubers per plant (5.59). Similar positive
that wider spacing resulted in more number of tubers (Table influence of zinc in increase of yield and quantitative
1). Spacing of 60 × 40cm (M3) gave maximum number of parameters on potato has been reported (Al-Jobori et al.
tubers per plant (5.7) and the lowest numbers of tubers 2014, Mousavi et al. 2007).

Table 1 Effect of planting geometry and foliar spray of micronutrients on yield parameters of potato
Number of tubers Tuber yield (q/ha) Marketable yield (q/ha) Non marketable yield (q/ha)
Treatments
M1 M2 M3 Mean M1 M2 M3 Mean M1 M2 M3 Mean M1 M2 M3 Mean
S1 5.43 4.81 5.75 5.33 170.06 177.43 156.45 167.98 141.72 145.12 131.51 139.45 28.34 32.31 24.94 28.53
S2 5.18 4.75 5.37 5.10 163.82 169.49 149.65 160.99 137.18 136.05 125.28 132.84 26.64 33.44 24.37 28.15
S3 5.25 4.75 6.00 5.33 175.73 172.9 157.59 168.74 146.26 137.75 133.22 139.07 29.47 35.14 24.37 29.66
S4 5.63 4.93 6.20 5.59 188.77 195.01 163.26 182.34 157.59 158.72 142.28 152.87 31.17 36.28 20.97 29.47
S5 4.75 4.55 5.17 4.82 155.32 161.56 144.55 153.81 126.98 129.81 118.48 125.09 28.34 31.74 26.07 28.71
Mean 5.25 4.76 5.70 170.74 175.28 154.30 141.95 141.49 130.15 28.79 33.78 24.14
S.Em± CD at 5% S.Em± CD at 5% S.Em± CD at 5% S.Em± CD at 5%
MP 0.04 0.16 2.75 10.81 0.75 2.61 0.47 1.87
SP 0.08 0.25 1.14 3.32 0.83 2.40 0.90 NS
MP × SP 0.14 0.43 1.97 5.76 1.45 N.S. 1.57 4.59

Table 2 Effect of planting geometry and nutrient sprays on sugar content

Reducing sugar (%) Nonreducing sugar (%) Total sugar (%)
Treatments M1 M2 M3 Mean M1 M2 M3 Mean M1 M2 M3 Mean
S1 0.09 0.16 0.08 0.11 0.54 0.45 0.59 0.53 0.63 0.62 0.67 0.64
S2 0.10 0.16 0.09 0.12 0.54 0.45 0.59 0.53 0.64 0.62 0.69 0.65
S3 0.09 0.17 0.07 0.11 0.57 0.47 0.62 0.55 0.67 0.65 0.70 0.67
S4 0.09 0.15 0.06 0.10 0.59 0.51 0.66 0.58 0.68 0.66 0.73 0.69
S5 0.12 0.19 0.11 0.14 0.53 0.42 0.57 0.50 0.66 0.61 0.68 0.65
Mean 0.10 0.17 0.08 0.55 0.46 0.61 0.66 0.63 0.69
S.Em± CD at 5% S.Em± CD at 5% S.Em± CD at 5%
MP 0.0018 0.0071 2.75 10.81 0.75 0.097
SP 0.0022 0.0066 0.002 0.008 0.033 0.099
MP × SP 0.0039 0.0116 0.005 0.014 0.058 0.171

Effect of spacing and nutrient sprays on quality parameters 2). Wider spacing of 60 × 40cm (M3) recorded significantly
The effect of spacing and nutrients on sugar content higher non reducing sugar (0.610%) and total sugar
revealed that sugars varied significantly with spacing (Table (0.698%) over all the spacing followed in the present

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 Spacing and Foliar Spray of Nutrients on Yield and Quality of Potato
research. However, reducing sugar was maximum (0.171%) and data on crude fiber, specific gravity and TSS is
in control. Among the nutrients, zinc sulphate @ 8.5 kg per presented in (Table 4). Spacing of 60 × 40 cm (M3) recorded
hectare (S4) recorded highest non reducing sugar (0.589%), maximum ash content (0.744 gm), starch content (15.6%),
total sugar (0.696%), crude fiber content (1.591 gm) and pH (3.683), specific gravity (0.826) and TSS (2.675°Brix).
minimum (0.069%) reducing sugar content. However crude fiber content was recorded maximum (1.571
Other qualitative characters were also influenced by gm) in tubers of plants spaced at 60 × 20cm (M2). In
varied spacing and nutrients. (Table 3) depicts the effect of contradiction, Ahmad et al. (2012) stated that more crude
spacing and nutrient sprays on ash, pH and starch content fiber was obtained at a wider spacing.

Table 3 Effect of planting geometry and nutrient sprays on ash, pH and starch content
Ash (%) pH Starch (%)
Treatments M1 M2 M3 Mean M1 M2 M3 Mean M1 M2 M3 Mean
S1 0.66 0.62 0.69 0.66 3.58 3.45 3.83 3.62 14.09 13.81 15.75 14.55
S2 0.65 0.60 0.73 0.66 3.46 3.21 3.60 3.43 14.44 13.41 15.68 14.51
S3 0.67 0.62 0.81 0.70 3.50 3.21 3.71 3.47 14.12 13.93 14.93 14.33
S4 0.69 0.63 0.81 0.71 3.67 3.45 3.90 3.67 16.19 13.93 17.06 15.73
S5 0.62 0.58 0.66 0.62 3.30 3.16 3.36 3.27 13.68 11.75 14.56 13.33
Mean 0.66 0.61 0.74 3.50 3.30 3.68 14.50 13.37 15.60
S.Em± CD at 5% S.Em± CD at 5% S.Em± CD at 5%
MP 0.0021 0.0084 0.1074 0.068 0.111 0.439
SP 0.0032 0.0096 0.0280 0.081 0.097 0.285
MP × SP 0.0057 0.0166 0.0486 0.141 0.169 0.493

Table 4 Effect of spacing and nutrients sprays on crude fiber, specific gravity and TSS
Crude fiber (%) Specific gravity TSS (°Brix)
Treatments M1 M2 M3 Mean M1 M2 M3 Mean M1 M2 M3 Mean
S1 1.50 1.41 1.57 1.49 0.82 0.80 0.82 0.81 2.35 2.23 2.50 2.36
S2 1.44 1.31 1.57 1.44 0.82 0.81 0.82 0.82 2.31 2.11 2.37 2.27
S3 1.40 1.39 1.52 1.43 0.82 0.82 0.83 0.82 2.49 2.25 2.53 2.42
S4 1.56 1.48 1.71 1.59 0.83 0.82 0.83 0.83 2.58 2.31 2.67 2.52
S5 1.32 1.24 1.46 1.34 0.79 0.77 0.81 0.79 2.36 2.12 2.38 2.29
Mean 1.44 1.37 1.57 0.82 0.81 0.82 2.42 2.21 2.49
S.Em± CD at 5% S.Em± CD at 5% S.Em± CD at 5%
MP 0.0024 0.097 0.0007 0.0028 0.0078 0.030
SP 0.033 0.099 0.0010 0.0029 0.0090 0.026
MP × SP 0.0058 NS 0.0017 0.0051 0.0155 0.045

Ash content (0.718 gm) was maximum when applied are further supported by Kazemi (2013) who stated that
with zinc sulphate @ 8.5 kg per hectare. Similar positive highest percentage of TSS (5.87°Brix) was obtained with
effect of zinc sulfate on ash content has been reported by application of foliar spray of zinc. Due to metabolic role of
Soleymani et al. (2012). Highest pH value (3.67) was also zinc in synthesis of proteins, enzyme activation and
reported by application of zinc sulfate similar to that metabolism of carbohydrate, utilization of fertilizers
obtained by Kazemi (2013). Maximum starch content containing this element increase qualitative and quantitative
(15.732%) was recorded by the application of zinc sulfate. performance of potato tubers (Alloway 2004).
Similar synergistic effect of zinc on starch content was Spacing as well as nutrient sprays affected the yield and
reported by Mousavi et al. (2007). Maximum specific quality of potato tubers. Closer spacing (60 × 20 cm)
gravity (0.831) was noticed with foliar spray of zinc resulted in production of more tubers, high tuber yield and
sulphate. Similar trend was reported by Ahmed et al. (2011) marketable yield; however quality parameters were
who obtained maximum specific gravity (1.0822) by the positively affected by wider spacing of 60 × 40 cm. Among
application of zinc @ 300 g/L. TSS content was maximum the nutrient sprays, zinc sulfate showed most positive effect
(2.523 °Brix) in plants sprayed with zinc sulfate. The results on yield, quality and marketability of potato tubers.

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