EFFECT OF MULCHING ON TWO VARIETIES OF POTATO

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in the Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh during October 2007 to February 2008 to find out the effect of mulching on two varieties of potato. The experiment considered with two factors. Factor A: Mulching (5 types) - M0 : No mulching (Control), M1 : Black polythene. M2: Rice straw, M3: Saw dust and M4: Water hyacinth. Factor B: Varieties of potato (2) V1 : Lal Shil and V 2: Lal Pakri. Data on different yield contributing characters and yield were recorded and found that At 75 DAP, the maximum plant height (54.76 cm), foliage coverage(76%), number of tubers per hill (8.15), dry matter content in tuber (17.30%) and yield (13.95 t/ha) was recorded from M1 treatment and the minimum values were observed from M 0 treatment. At 75 DAP, the maximum plant height (48.65 cm), foliage coverage (65-87%), number of tubers per hill (7.30), dry matter content in tuber (16.34%) and yield (12.96 t/ha) was recorded from Lal Shil variety and the minimum values were found from Lal Pakri variety. In ease of combined effect at 75 DAP, the maximum plant height (56.16 cm), foliage coverage (80.33%), number of tubers per hill (8.80), dry matter content in tuber (18.38%) and yield (14.52 t/ha) was recorded from M 1 V1 and the minimum values were observed from M0V2 treatment. 13CR: The highest benefit cost ratio (2.05) was recorded from M 1 V1 and the lowest (1.50) was recorded from M0V2 treatment. So, it may be concluded that Black polythene mulching with Lal Shil variety was found suitable.