Enhancing Agricultural Practices: Exploring the Benefits of Paddy Straw Management Technologies Adopted by Potato Growers in Jalandhar District, Punjab, India

Abstract

This study was conducted in the Jalandhar district of Punjab in 2020-21, chosen purposefully due to its status as the region with the highest potato cultivation area. The list of potato growers was obtained from the District Horticulture Department in Jalandhar. Five blocks—Nakodar, Adampur, Bhogpur, Jalandhar East, and Jalandhar West—with the maximum potato cultivation area were selected from this list. A sample of 200 potato growers was then chosen using a proportionate cum random sampling method. Following the adoption of paddy straw management technologies, 52.5 % of potato growers reported a decrease in fertilization costs whereas 85 % of potato growers observed that increased in the cost of preparation of land during used of paddy straw management technologies by Rs.3035 because of high rate of diesel consumption.  Additionally, 37 % observed an improvement in soil health, while 40.5% noted an increase in potato yield. The majority of potato growers incorporated paddy straw into their potato fields. However, an equal percentage of growers (17%) either used paddy straw to make bales or burned it. Notably, the adoption of paddy straw chopper, mulcher, and Mould board plough by potato growers led to a significant increase in potato yield. The results also indicated that for yield, the t - values for two tailed significance level of the difference between sample means for the response was 0.000 cost of production due to adoption of all the technologies by the potato growers. Therefore, statistically significant differences at level of 0.05 were observed in all five technologies used for paddy straw management in potato cultivation.