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Effect of Organic Farming on Nutrient Uptake and Quality of Potato

M. R. Islam
Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

B. S. Nahar
Center for Environmental Studies Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The experiment was carried out at the Environmental Science Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period November 2004 to February 2005 to evaluate the effect of organic farming on soil and potato quality. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete Block Design with five treatment and three replications. The treatments and their combinations were cowdung, poultry manure, inorganic fertilizer, cowdung plus inorganic fertilizer and poultry manure plus inorganic fertilizer. The nutrient content of P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn of tuber and haulm, and starch and protein content in tuber were highest in cowdung treated potato and but N and S content of both tuber and haulm were highest in case of poultry manure. The uptake of P, K, Mg and S of both tuber and haulm in case of poultry manure but N and Zn uptake was highest in case of poultry manure plus inorganic fertilizer. Finally, calcium uptake was highest in cowdung in both cases of tuber and protean and starch contents were influenced by organic farming.

Keywords: Nutrient content, Organic farming, Potato, Quality

Location: Environmental Science Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-11-2004

End Date: 00-02-2005

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Potato

Objectives:

1) To find out the interaction effect between conventional and organic farming on potato quality, and 2) To assess the nutritive quality of potato tuber.

Methodology:

Soil of the experimental Field - The soil of the experimental field belongs to the Sonatola soil series of non –calcareous, dark grey under the Old Brahmaputra Alluvial Tract, which is more or less neutral in reaction. The experimental field was a medium high land with leveled topography and poor drainage condition. Land Preparation - The experimental field was first opened in the October 2004 with a tractor and was exposed to the sunlight for seven days prior to next ploughing. The land was then harrowed, ploughed and cross-ploughed several times with a power tiller followed by laddering to obtain a good tilt. Then the land was leveled, weed, stubbles, and crop residues were removed and the land was then finally prepared four days before planting the seed tubers. Layout and Design of the Experiment - The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The total numbers of unit plots were 15. The size of an unit plot was 2.0 m X 2.0 m. Inter-block and inter-plot spacing were 1.0 m and 0.50 m respectively. Treatments of the Investigation - The experiment was conducted with five treatments viz. conventional farming (inorganic fertilizer), cowdung, poultry manure, cowdung plus recommended fertilizer and poultry manure plus recommended fertilizer. Cowdung and poultry manure were as the source of organic farming and the combinations (Cowdung + conventional farming and poultry manure + conventional farming) as the source of interaction between conventional and organic farming. The treatments used for the experiment were as follows: i) T1= Cowdung @ 30 t/ha, ii) T2 = Poultry manure@ 25 t/ha, iii) T3:= Conventional farming (inorganic fertilizer) @ 250Kg urea/ha, 220Kg TSP/ha, 250Kg MP/ha, 120 kg gypsum/ha and 10 Kg Zinc Sulphat/ha iv) T4 = Cowdung + conventional farming (50% cowdung & 50% inorganic of the above recommendation) v) T5 = Poultry manure + conventional farming (50% cowdung & 50% inorganic of the above recommendation) Preparation of Seed materials - The seed potatoes of the variety (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Diamont Diamont were collected from Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC). Ten days before planting, seed potatoes were kept in defused light in order to obtained healthy and good sprouts. Well sprouted whole seed tubers were cut into pieces maintaining 4-5 eyes per piece. The average weight of the cut seed piece was recorded to be 20 g. Planting of seed Tubers - The seed tubers were planted in 30 November 2004 in rows in Furrows made with the help of the country plough. The unit plot size was 2.0 m X 2.0 m and the seed tubers were planted in furrows at a distance of 60 cm from row to row and 20 cm from tuber to tuber. The depth of the planting was approximately 7 cm. Immediate after planting the seed tubers were covered with soil. Intercultural Operations - Manual weeding was done as and when necessary to keep the plots free from weeds. The soil was mulched by breaking the crust for an easy aeration and to conserve soil moisture. Earthing up was done twice during the growing period of the potato tubers. The first earthing up was done at 25 days after planting. The second and the final earthing up were done at 45 days after planting, which was preceded by top dressing of the remaining Urea and MP fertilizer. Analytical methods - Plant samples were collected from the field experiment to analyze the N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S & Zn content of tuber and haulm and protein and starch content of potato tuber. The tuber and haulm samples were dried in an oven at about 65ºC of 48 hours and then ground in a grinding machine to pass through a 20 mesh sieve. The ground plant materials (tuber and haulm) were stored in a small paper bags and placed in a desicator.

Source of Information: J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(2): 219 - 224 , 2012; ISSN 1999-7361

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The nutrient content of P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn of tuber and haulm, and starch and protein content in tuber were highest in cowdung treated potato and but N and S content of both tuber and haulm were highest in case of poultry manure. The uptake of P, K, Mg and S of both tuber and haulm in case of poultry manure but N and Zn uptake was highest in case of poultry manure plus inorganic fertilizer. Finally, calcium uptake was highest in cowdung in both cases of tuber and protean and starch contents were influenced by organic farming.

Knowledge Management: Journal