EFFECTS OF ZINC AND CALCIUM ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF POTATO (Solanum tuberosum lL.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during November, 2006 to March, 2007 to evaluate the effects of Zinc and Calcium on growth, yield components and yield of potato cv. Diamant. There were four levels of Zinc, namely, 0, 3, 6, and 9 kg Zn/ha and also four levels of Calcium, namely, 0, 15, 25 and 35 kg Ca/ha for this study. The results of the experiment revealed that number of leaves, fresh weight of haulm per hill and weight of tubers per hill, yield per plot, yield per hectare, net return and cost benefit ratio were maximum at 6 kg Zn + 25 kg Ca/ha, while the minimum values were recorded from control. Days to 80% emergence of plants were influenced by the combined application of Zinc and Calcium. Increasing doses of Zinc and Calcium resulted significant increase in growth and yield of tubers. For individual application the highest yield of tubers 24.48 t/ha and 24.58 t/ha were obtained from 6 kg Zn/ha and 25 kg Ca/ha, respectively. The maximum yield of tubers (30.56 t/ha), highest net return (Tk.2,61,939.24 /ha) and cost benefit ratio (3.5) were observed in combination of 6 kg Zn +25 kg Ca/ha.