M.M.H. Sarker
Department of Soil Science, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh
A.Z.M Moslehuddin
Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
M. Jahiruddin
Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
M.R. Islam
Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
Micronutrients, Potato, Floodplain soil, Bangladesh.
Gabura village under Chandina upazila of Cumilla district in Bangladesh
Crop-Soil-Water Management
Fertilizer, Amaranth
Experimental site Farmer’s field in Gabura village under Chandina upazila of Cumilla district in Bangladesh was the site of the experiment. The soil of the experimental field belonged to the Old Meghna Estuarine Floodplain (AEZ 19) having Chandina soil series under Non-Calcareous Dark Grey Floodplain Soil type. The nutrient status including other parameters in initial soil is shown in Table 1. The popular potato variety ‘Diamant’ was used in the trial. Treatments Seven treatment combinations including a control were tested in the experiment. The treatments were T1 (Control), T2 (Zn), T3 (Zn+B), T4 (Zn+B+Cu), T5 (Zn+B+Cu+Mn), T6 (Zn+B+Cu+Mn+Fe) and T7 (Zn+B+Cu+Mn+Fe+Mo). Micronutrients were applied as ZnSO4.7H2O, H3BO3, CuSO4.5H2O, MnCl2, FeSO4.7H2O and Na2MoO4 at the rates of 3 kg Zn, 2 kg B, 2 kg Cu, 3 kg Mn, 5 kg Fe and 1 kg Mo ha-1, respectively. To apply different macronutrients, urea, TSP, MoP and gypsum were used at recommended rates (125, 25, 100 and 10 kg ha-1 for N, P, K and S, respectively) equally for all plots (FRG, 2005). Experimental design and layout The experiment was set up with randomized complete block design having three replications of each treatment. The treatments were randomly distributed to the plots in each block. The individual plots measuring 5 m x 4 m were surrounded by 40 cm wide and 10 cm height earthen bunds. One meter wide and 10 cm deep irrigation channel was made in-between two blocks. The land was prepared well before planting. The layout of the experiment and randomization was done in accordance with the standard statistical methods. Planting potato seeds and intercultural operations Furrows were made with a plough and sprouted seed tubers were planted in the furrows maintaining a spacing 55 cm x 15 cm. All the tubers in the furrows were covered with soil. The first earthing-up was done after the second dose of urea application at 30 DAP. The 2nd earthing-up was done at 40 DAP. Irrigation was provided once at 35 DAP. To control late blight disease, ridomyl was sprayed at 10 day intervals starting from 25 DAP until maturity. To control rodent, phostoxin tablet (fumigant) was inserted into the hole of the rodents and then opening of the hole was blocked with soil. Data recorded Potato tubers were harvested when they attained edible stage. Six square meter area from each plot was harvested to record tuber and haulm yields. The weights of tuber were taken just after harvest. The haulm yield was expressed on sundry basis. Data on plant height were recorded from 10 randomly selected representative plants from outside the harvested area within a plot, as described by Gomez and Gomez (1984). Collection and preparation of plant samples for chemical analysis Plant samples (tuber and haulm) were collected at the time of harvesting. The haulm samples were air dried immediately after collection and the dry samples were chopped off into smaller pieces. The collected plant samples were then oven dried at 65°C for 24 hours. To obtain homogenous powder, the samples were finely ground by using a grinding-mill to pass through a 60-mesh sieve. The processed plant samples were chemically analyzed for determination of N, P, K, S, Zn and B concentrations following the methods stated in Table 3. Nutrient uptake was calculated from the yield and respective nutrient concentration data using the following formulae- -For N, P, K and S: Nutrient uptake by tuber (kg ha-1) = Nutrient content in tuber (%), Oven dry yield (t ha-1), 10 Nutrient uptake by haulm (kg ha-1) = Nutrient content in haulm (%) , Oven dry yield (kg ha-1)/100 -For Zn and B: Nutrient uptake (g ha-1) = Nutrient content in tuber (µg g-1) , Oven dry yield (t ha-1) Nutrient uptake (g ha-1) = Nutrient content in haulm (µg g-1) , Yield (kg ha-1)/1000 Protein concentrations of potato tuber were calculated from N concentration of tuber by using the following formulae- % Protein = % N of the produce × 6.25. (FAO/WHO/UNU, 1985). Data analysis The collected data were compiled and tabulated, which were subjected to statistical analyses following standard methodology and the mean differences were adjudged by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (Gomez and Gomez, 1984).
SAARC J. Agri., 16(2): 97-108 (2018)
Journal