Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy research field of Sher-e-Bangla
Agricultural University. Dhaka. during the period from November 2013 to Jul' 2014, to
study the potassium and mulch effects on growth. yield, quality and storage perlbrmance
of potato. The experiment comprised as two thetors: Factor A: potassium:
4 levels: K1 -
No Mop.
K, - 200 kg MoP ha* K1 - 250 kg MoP ha". K
4 - 300 kg MoP ha'' and Factor
B: different mulches: M, - soil mulch. M - rice straw. M
3
- vater hyacinth and M4
- saw
dust. 'ftc experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. The result
revealed that potassiim and/or mulch materials had significant effects on most of the
growth. yield and quality parameters studied in this experiment. Results revealed that.
tuber yield, dry matter content. specific gravity and total soluble solids. gradually
increased with increasing up to application of 250 kg MoP ha" and thereafter decreased
with increasing potassium level. Among the different niulch materials, rice straw
exhibited better perfonnance in respect oL'vield. dry matter content. specific gravity', total
soluble solids in tuber compared to those of other mulches. Among the sixteen treatment
combinations. the application of 250 kg MoP ha
1 along with rice straw mulch produced
maximum tuber yield (28.89 t ha''). highest dry matter content (24.33 %). maximum
specific gravity (1.13 g em') and optimum total soluble solids (4.20 % brix). This
combination also demonstrated better performance in ambient storage condition. [he
max imuni cosi benent ratio (2.61 ) were
101111(1 when application ol' 250 kg MoP ha' s"itli
rice straw mulch. Although the combination of K3M2 showed better grovth. yield, quality
performance but K
1M3 also demonstrated statistically similar results. So. rice straw
mulch or water hyacinth are suitable for prodticing good quality potato along with
applying 250 kg Mo? ha".
