Response of Potato Cultivars to Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers Under the Agroclimatic Conditions of Skardu (Gilgit-Baltistan)

Abstract

Field research was conducted during summer season in 2010, in order to determine the effective
combination between potato varieties i.e., the best yielding potato cultivar under organic or inorganic
fertilizer in Skardu valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was
used for the trial and both the experimental factors (cultivar and fertilizer type) significantly affected the
crops growth and yield variables. Among the nine different organic and inorganic fertilizer treatments, the
maximum mean values of sprouting rate 43.1%, plant height 49.5 cm, number of tubers/plant (8.5), weight
of tubers/plant (385.9 g), tuber diameter 3.8 cm and yield (25.7 t/ha) were obtained in the crops which
received 10 tonnes FYM/ha + 150 kg N/ha. Among the cultivars tested, Desiree showed the maximum
mean values of sprouting rate 30.4%, plant height 36.7 cm, number of tubers/plant 7.3, weight of tubers/plant
350.3 g, tuber diameter 3.7 cm and yield 23.4 t/ha. Overall results revealed that the treatment matched to
10 t/ha FYM + 150 kg/ha N (T7) led to the highest tuber yield and Desiree showed better performances
than other cultivars.