Influence of Different Planting Dates and Mulches on Growth, Yield and Economics of Potato

The present research work was conducted at Pili kothi farm, Department of Agronomy, Tilak Dhari Post Graduate College, Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh during winter season of 2018 and 2019. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design. The treatments comprised of different planting dates viz. 20 days early planting on 17th October, 10 days early planting on 27th October, Optimum planting time on 7th November, 10 days late planting on 17th November and 20 days late planting on 27th November and different mulching practices viz. Organic mulch (Paddy straw at 5 t/ha), Plastic mulch (Black colour) and Control (Without mulch) of potato. There were 15 treatments and each were replicated to four folds. These treatments were randomly arranged in each replication and divided into sixty plots. The results revealed that the significantly maximum number of haulms/hill at 45 DAP (4.50, 4.70 and 4.60), plant height (52.30, 54.00 and 53.10 cm), dry weight/ (27.90, 28.20 and 28.00) plant at 60 DAP, weight of tubers/plant (496.40, 504.10 and 500.30), weight of tubers/plant (>75 g) (207.70, 209.00 and 208.30) and tuber yield (369.30, 370.70 and 370.00 q/ha) were recorded under 20 Days Early Planting On 17th October among different planting dates during first, second year and mean data also. Whereas among the mulching practices significant variation were recorded among the all parameter. However maximum number of haulms/hill (3.60, 3.70 and 3.70) at 45 DAP, plant height (50.20, 52.0 and 51.10 cm), dry weight/plant (25.5, 25.9 and 25.7) at 60 DAP, weight of tubers/plant (454.80, 460.70 and 457.70), weight of tubers/plant (>75 g) (191.90, 193.30 and 192.60) and tuber yield (333.80, 334.90 and 334.30 q/ha) under the organic mulch (paddy straw at 5 t/ha) respectively, during first, second year as well as in mean data also.