Bhim B. Khatri1, Surendra L. Shrestha2, Duryodhan Chaudhari1, Binod P. Luitel1 and Raj L.. Saha2
1National Potato Research Programme, Khumaltar, Lalitpur
2Regional Agricultural Research Station, Parwanipur Bara
Nepal Agricultural Research Council
Abstract
Forty-three advanced potato clones were assessed at RARS Parwanipur Bara for their performance in three different moisture conditions; rain-fed (T1), mulching (T2) and irrigated (T3) during the years 2008/09 and 2009/10. The experiment was laid out in two factor-factorial designs considering moisture treatments as factor A and potato clones as B and years considered as the replications. All intercultural operations were followed as per the recommendations. Clone CIP 388764.26 was found highly susceptible and CIP 393280.64, MS 35.9, Des x LBr 40-10, BSU PO3 and Des x LBr 40-6 highly resistant to late blight disease in rainfed treatment, whereas in mulching, CIP 392242.25 was highly susceptible and LBr-40, Ca x LBr 40-6 and CIP 393280.64 were resistant. Likewise in irrigated treatment, Des x LBr 40.6 was highly susceptible and CIP 387115.8LB, CIP 389746.2 and Ca x LBr 40.6 were resistant. Average plant vigor was found lowest (7) in rainfed conditions compared to both of other treatments, but no difference was observed between mulching and irrigated treatments. There was no treatment effect on average number of main stems per plant; however irrigated treatment had higher number of main stems compared to others. Overall number of marketable tubers was counted more in irrigated treatment followed by mulching and rainfed, respectively, but, no differences in percentage marketable yield observed. In rainfed conditions, CIP 394004.161, CIP 396001.47 and Desiree produced the highest marketable tuber percentages, whereas in mulching, Kufri Giriraj, CIP 387115.8LB and CIP 392256.48 and in irrigated treatment, CIP 395192.1 were the highest marketable sized tuber yielder. CIP 388676.1 in rainfed, Kufri Sindhuri in mulching and irrigated treatment produced the highest number of marketable size tubers. Highest number and percentage of non-marketable yields were produced in irrigated conditions followed by mulching. The differences of 2.9 tons per hectare was observed between irrigated and rainfed treatments, whereas only the difference of 1.4 tons/ha was observed between irrigated and mulching treatments among the clones and moisture conditions tested. Overall performance of the clones CIP 395192.1, CIP 393663.8, CIP 386612.5, CIP 387115.8LB, CIP 397077.16, CIP 393077.159, CIP 394004.161, CIP 395192.1; Ca x
LBr 40-7, CIP 396011.47 and CIP 388676.l was better among all the clones tested in all the three moisture conditions at Parwanipur conditions.