Abstract:
Executive Summary
Quality potato is the main constraint for the expansion and improvement of potato
processing industry in Bangladesh. Application of biochar and/or vermicompost with
required chemical fertilizers may improve its processing quality. From this perspective, an
experiment was carried out in the research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University
(SAU), Dhaka, Bangladesh from November, 2021 to April, 2022 to find out the response of
biochar and vermicompost on yield and quality of potato. The experiment consisted of two
factors. Factor A: Biochar levels (4) viz., B
1
: control (0 t ha
-1
), B
2
: 1.5 t ha
,
and B
4
: 4.5 t ha
-1
. Factor B: Vermicompost levels (4) viz., Vm
1
: control (0 t ha
: 1.5 t
ha
-1
, Vm
3
:3.0 t ha
-1
and Vm
4
: 4.5 t ha
-1
. The two factors experiment was laid out in a splitplot
design with 3 replications. The results revealed that biochar and/or vermicompost had
significantly influenced on the most of the yield and quality contributing parameters studied
under this experiment. Average tuber weight, tuber yield, marketable tuber yield, yield of
potato for chips and French fries production increased with increasing biochar and/or
vermicompost levels. In case of quality parameters such as, specific gravity, dry matter and
starch content also increased with increasing biochar and vermicompost levels, but one of
the harmful constituent of potato such as reducing sugar level decreased with increasing their
levels. Among the 16 treatment combinations, the maximum tuber yield (32.47 t ha
),
marketable yield (32.07 t ha
-1
-1
, B
) and yield of potato for French fry production (6.37 t ha
)
were produced from B
4
Vm
4
which was statistically similar to B
4
Vm
3
, B
,
respectively. Though the combination of B
4
Vm
4
3
showed superior performance in quality
aspects such as specific gravity (1.068 g cm
-3
) and starch content (18.45 mg g
FW ), but
B
4
Vm
3
, B
3
Vm
4
and B
3
Vm
3
also showed statistical similar values. Finally, it may be
concluded that the potato growers may apply 3 t ha
-1
each of biochar and vermicompost
along with recommended dose of chemical fertilizers (350-220-250-120-10 kg ha
of Urea,
TSP, MoP, Gypsum and Zinc sulphate (mono-hydrate), respectively (Anon., 2017) for better
yield and good quality potato using BARI Alu-25 under the prevailing climatic and soil
condition of AEZ-28 (Madhupur Tract) for producing good quality potato without
sacrificing yield.
