Effect of planting dates and integrated nutrient management on productivity and profitability of potato (Solanum tuberosum) in Kashmir valley

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy ( kharif) seasons of 2008 and 2009 at Shalimar, Srinagar in a split plot design having 3 dates in the main plots and 6 sources of nutrients through the combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers in the sub-plots with 3 replications, to find out their effect on productivity and profitability of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.). Among the dates, planting on 25 March recorded significantly higher tuber yield (35.7t/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.89) than that sown on 10 March and 11 April during both the years. Plant height, number of shoots, shoot dry matter, leaf-area index (LAI) and number of tubers/hill (11.48) were also the highest in 25 March planting as compared to the other planting dates. Application of 75% of full recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) (120:75:75 NPK/ha) + 8 t/ha vermicompost + pre-sowing tuber treatment with Azotobacter and phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria proved significantly superior in terms of number of tubers hill, harvest index, tuber yield (32.7 t/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.75) of potato over rest of the treatments during both years.