Abstract
Altogether seven experiments were conducted under different field and storage conditions in the present study, where factors like seed size, plant spacing, planting date, boron, cowdung, roguing, irrigation before haulm pulling and harvesting date were included. The effects of the factors on seed tuber yield and yield contributing characters and on storage performance of seed potato were evaluated. The experiments were conducted in the field of Agro Service Centre, farmers' field and BADC cold storage Jamalpur in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10. In experiment-1, four seed sizes (viz.; 20, 25, 30 and 35 g) and four plant spacings (viz; 60 cm x 10cm, 60 cm x 15cm, 60 cm x 20cm and 60 cm x 25cm) were evaluated, where the highest yield and better storage performance in respect of loss in weight, % emergence and vigor index were recorded 35 g seed size combination with 60cm x 10cm. In experiment-2, four planting dates (31 October, 15 November, 30 November and 15 December) were evaluated where the highest yield and best storage performance were recorded from 15 November planting. In case of experiment-3, four levels of boron (0, 1, 2 and 3 kg/ha) and four doses of cowdung (0, 5, 10 and 15 t/ha) were evaluated. Boron @ 1 kg/ha in combination with cowdung @ 15 t/ha showed higher yield and best storage performance. In case of experiment- 4, four levels of roguing (0, 1, 2 and 3 times roguing) were tested. Roguing 3 times showed highest yield and higher storage performance. In case of experiment-5, four levels of irrigation (0, 5, 10 and 15 days before haulm pulling) were evaluated, where irrigation applied 10 days before haulm pulling, the yield was higher and the storage of tubers was better. In case of experiment-6, four harvesting dates (70, 80, 90 and 100 days after planting) were evaluated; where 90 days after planting showed higher yield and better storage performance. In experiment-7, 16 integrated management practices were tested. The highest yield and best storage performance were recorded when Boron 1 kg/ha + Cowdung 15 t/ha + 35 g seed size + 60 cm x 10 cm spacing + 3 times roguing were used. In economic point of view, Boron 1 kg/ha + Cowdung 15 t/ha + 30 g seed size + 60 cm x 15 cm spacing + 3 times roguing showed the highest net return of Tk. 315386/ha and benefit cost ratio of 2.72. The findings of the study suggest that seed potato producers should adopt integrated management of mid November planting of 30 g cut seed tubers at a spacings of 60 cm x15 cm and the soil applied with 1 kg boron/ha and 15 t cowdung/ha and the crop receiving 3 times roguing, irrigation 10 days before haulm pulling and harvesting at 90 days after planting.