Study on Morphological, Physiological Characteristics and Yields of Twenty-One Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cultivars Grown in Eastern Sub-Himalayan Plains of India

The present study was conducted in the eastern sub-Himalayan plains of West Bengal, India, to evaluate 21 potato cultivars (including table- and processing-type) and assess their suitability in terms of improved physiological responses, yield performances, stability and profitability. A significant difference in various growth attributes, i.e., plant height, number of stems per plant, leaf area index (LAI), dry matter (DM) accumulation, and crop growth rate (CGR), was noted amongst different cultivars. Significant variation was also observed in net photosynthesis rate (NPR), transpiration rate (TR), and stomatal conductance rate (SCR) recorded at various stages of growth. Amongst all the cultivars, ‘Kufri Chipsona-4’ showed the highest SCR at both 60 and 80 days after planting (DAP), while ‘Kufri Pokhraj’ had the highest NPR at both 60 and 80 DAP. However, the highest TR was achieved with ‘Kufri Chipsona-3’and ‘Kufri Surya’ at 60 and 80 DAP, respectively. ‘Kufri Pukhraj’ and ‘Kufri Himsona’ achieved the maximum and minimum tuber bulking rate (TBR) values at initial growth stages (upto 60 days), respectively; however, ‘Kufri Arun’ and ‘Kufri Surya’ had significantly higher TBRs during the later part of growth (after 60 days to maturity), leading to higher tuber yields amongst the medium maturing cultivars. Among the 21 cultivars, ‘Kufri Arun’ showed the maximum total tuber yield (35.52 t/ha), followed by ‘Kufri Pukhraj’ (33.54 t/ha) with higher marketable grade tubers. In terms of production economics, ‘Kufri Arun’ achieved the maximum net return (USD 2137.4) and B:C (benefit:cost) ratio (2.17), suggesting the suitability of this cultivar in the eastern sub-Himalayan plains of West Bengal. The early maturing ‘Kufri Pukhraj’ and processing variety ‘Kufri Chipsona-3’ also showed their suitability in terms of net returns and B:C ratio. The heat-tolerant variety ‘Kufri Surya’ also achieved a tuber yield of 31 tha−1 with satisfying net return (USD 1596.9) and B:C ratio (1.88), suggesting the suitability of this cultivar in this region under terminal heat stress. However, the stability analysis showed that the cultivars ‘Kufri Khyati’ and ‘HPS II/67’ were the most stable in terms of additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) stability value (ASV) and yield stability index (YSI), respectively.