Effect of water quality and integrated nutrient management on growth, yield, quality and net return of potato (Solanum tuberosum)

A field experiment was carried out at Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India during 2004–05 and 2005–06 to assess the effect of water quality and integrated nutrient management on growth, yield, quality and net return of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Canal water improved plant height (10.8 and 42.6%), number of leaves at 90 DAS (19.3 and 57.3%), dry matter accumulation (10.2 and 46.9%) and leaf area index (18.7 and 57.9%); tuber size (13.6 and 31.8%), number of tubers plant−1 (14.3 and 36.8%), fresh weigh tubers−1 (16.1 and 34.4%) and fresh yield of tubers plant−1 (20.2 and 51.0%); tuber yield (9.1 and 46.4%) and haulm yield (13.5 and 50.9%); starch content (4.0 and 14.2%) and net monetary returns (16.2 and 103.7%) compared to water of EC 4 d S m−1 and EC 6 d S m−1 during 2004–05 and 2005–06, respectively. Tuber yield increased by 83.85% due to combined application of 50% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) through chemical fertilizer + 2.5 t ha−1 leucaena litterfall over the control and it was closely followed by 50% RDF through chemical fertilizer + 2.5 t ha−1 mesquet litterfall. This integrated nutrient management was most productive and economically viable with highest tuber production and net return.