Md. Akhter-Ul-Alam
On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Station, Alamnagar, Rangpur, Bangladesh
Zannatul Ferdous*
On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Station, Alamnagar, Rangpur, Bangladesh
Khairul Islam
On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Station, Alamnagar, Rangpur, Bangladesh
Most. Ummay Salma Khatun
On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Station, Alamnagar, Rangpur, Bangladesh
Md. Babul Akter
Crop Physiology Division, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
Ummay Kulsum Laily
On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Station, Alamnagar, Rangpur, Bangladesh
Mazharul Anwar
On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Station, Alamnagar, Rangpur, Bangladesh
Khakon Kumar Sarker
Irrigation and Water Management Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, Bangladesh.
Judicial water use; Drought management; Sustainable potato production.
Multi Location Testing (MLT) site, Khalashpir, Rangpur under On-Farm Research Division, Rangpur
Crop-Soil-Water Management
Water management, Potato
2.1 Plant Material Seed of potato cultivar “Cardinal” was collected from Breeder Seed production Farm, Debigonj, Panchagar, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Bangladesh. Meteorological data’s such as minimum and maximum temperature, rainfall were collected from nearby weather station to determine reference crop evapotranspiration. The rainfall received during the growing season was almost 0 mm. The mean monthly rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature distribution for the study year is explained. Comparison of those graphs explicitly shows that there was no any source of moisture other than irrigation for the study period.
2.2 Site Description The experiment was carried out in the farmer’s field in the village of Khalashpir, Pirganj subdistrict, Rangpur distrcit under Multi-location Testing (MLT) site under Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) during two consecutive years of 2014-2015 and 2015-2016.
The experimental area is situated between 25°40' and 26°12.5' North latitude and 88°39’ and 88°45' East longitude. The land topography is medium high land and the soil belongs to the North Eastern Barind Tract under Agro Ecological Zone (AEZ) 27. The experimental land was quite uniform and soil analyses were conducted to ascertain soil fertility status before planting. Texturally the soil of the experimental field is silty loam having 49.64 per cent sand, 30.00 per cent silt and 20.36 per cent clay. The average bulk density of the soil is 1.43 gm/cc. The soil is slightly acidic with pH value 5.34 having organic matter 1.155%.
2.3 Experimental Details Experiment was replicated thrice in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three dispersed replications. The plot size was 6 m × 5 m.
2.4 Crop Management The entire amount of cowdung manure was applied 4 days before final land preparation. The whole of P, K, S, Mg, Zn, B and 1/3 of N were applied during final land preparation. The rest of N was applied in two equal installments as top dress at 25 and 50 Days after emergence (DAE). One weeding was done at 25 DAE. The crop was planted on 25-29 November in both the years. Preventive measures were taken to control insect and diseases applying appropriate insecticides and fungicides. Carbofuran 5 G at the rate of 15 kg ha-1 was applied in furrows (depth 5-6 cm) to control cut worm. To control late blight and aphid, Mancozeb and Malathion applied at the rate of 2 kg and 1 L, respectively. Crops were harvested at 90 Days after planting (DAS) after proper tuber maturing. Potatoes complete its life cycle through four stages which are stolonization stage (35 DAP), tuberization stage (45 DAP), bulking stage (60 DAP) and ripening stage (80 DAP).
2.4.1 Data collection and statistical analysis After maturing randomly 5 plants were harvested to record the yield and yield contributing characters of potato. Fresh tuber yield was harvested from randomly pre-selected central areas (about 9 m-2) of each plot and converted into tons per hectare (t ha-1). Mean data was analyzed statistically and was carried out to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the MSTATC. Further statistical validity of the differences among treatment means was estimated using the least significant difference (LSD) comparison method.
2.4.2 Economic and marginal analysis Benefit-cost analysis was conducted to estimate the economic feasibility of potato crop. The production costs of potato included the cost of field preparation, seed, planting, irrigation, fertilizers, crop protection measures and harvesting. The gross income was estimated using the prevailing average market prices for the tuber yield of potato in Bangladesh. Net income was calculated by subtracting total expenditure from the gross income. Marginal analysis was carried out on the basis of variable costs and prevailing market prices of potato.
Annual Research & Review in Biology 21(3): 1-9, 2017
Journal