Abstract:
Production of maximum number of seed-sized tubers should be the main component
of seed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production programme in Bangladesh to
improve the tuber yield. From this perspective a field experiment was carried out in
the research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Dhaka-1207,
during November, 2015 to March, 2016 to investigate the effects of planting
geometry, nitrogen and phosphorus ratio and haulm cutting on the production of seed
potato. “Courage” was used as planting material under present study. The experiment
comprised of three different factors as treatments namely, factor A: Planting
geometry: S
1
= 60 × 20 cm and S
= 60 × 15 cm; factor B: Ratio of nitrogen (N):
phosphorus (P): L
1
=100:40 and L
2
2
=
150:50 and factor C: Period of haulm cutting:
H
1
= at 80 DAP (days after planting) and H
= at 90 DAP. The experiment was laid out
in a 3 factors split-split-plot design with four replications, where the planting
geometry assigned to main plots; ratio of nitrogen and phosphorus to sub-plots and
periods of haulm cutting to sub-sub plots. Results demonstrated that most of the
parameters were significantly influenced by planting geometry, nitrogen and
phosphorus ratio and haulms cutting period. In case of growth parameters, only the
combination of planting geometry and fertilizer ratio noted a significant variation.
Haulm cutting period had no effect on growth parameters. In aspect of yield
components, the highest weight of tuber hill
2
ii
-1
(g), average tuber weight (g), tuber
yield (t ha
-1
) and seed potato yield (t ha
-1
) was found under higher planting geometry,
higher ratio of N: P and late haulm cutting. In case of combination, the highest weight
of tuber hill
-1
(455.62 g),
average tuber weight (54.54 g), tuber yield (37.96 t ha
) and
seed potato yield (30.06 t ha
-1
) were exhibited from S
1
L
2
H
treatment i.e., the wider
planting geometry (60cm × 20cm), higher nitrogen and phosphorus (150:50 kg ha
2
)
in combination with late haulm cutting (at 90 DAP) whereas S
treatment
combination was the worst one. From this study, it may be concluded that the best
combination of planting system from the present study may put remarkable
contribution for minimizing the seed scarcity to improve the tuber yield for the
betterment of farming community.