I.P.Gautam*, M.D. Sharma**, B.B. Khatri* R.B. Thapa**, K. Shrestha*** and D. Chaudhary*
*National Potato Research Program, NARC, Lalitpur, Khumaltar,
**Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Rampur, Chitwan
***National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Khumaltar, Nepal.
Abstract
Field and storage experiments were conducted to find out the main effects and interactions between different levels of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers on total yield, yield of different size grade, storability and better processing quality for chips of potato variety Kufri Jyoti at Hattiban farm Khumaltar and storage house of National Potato Research Program (NPRP) Khumaltar and at Balaju cold store, respectively. After harvesting and curing of potato, 5 kg of tubers weight each tuber more than 60 gram weights were used for the storage and processing quality determination. The storage experiments were conducted in CRD design with 3 replications. Plastic racks and net bags were used for storage of potato in dark room and cold storage house, respectively. Potato was stored for 90 days in dark room and 120 days in cold house. Laboratory analyses were carried out at National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) at Lalitpur before and after storage of potato in ordinary conditions and before immediately after removing from cold store and 15 days after re-conditioned. Observations were recorded on yield, storage losses, sprouting, chips quality parameters like specific gravity (SG), dry matter (DM) and reducing sugar (RS). The storage loss and sprouting percentage was recorded at 15 days intervals of dark sore potatoes and before storage, immediately after removing from cold and 15 days after reconditioned of cold store potatoes. The results showed a significant effect of N and K20 and there interaction on yield sprouting, weight loss percentage and quality parameters. Based on the yield and quality parameters the combination of 150:100:60 kg N: P2O5: K2O along with 20 tons compost/ ha is found suitable for storage and production of processing chips quality potato at Lalitpur and similar soil and environment condition of Nepal.
Keywords: Potato, nitrogen, potash, processing qualities for chips and yield.