Integrated Nutrient Management Using Organic Manures and Inorganic Fertilizers Enhances Growth, Yield, and Tuber Quality of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Chipsona-3

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important food crop globally due to its high productivity, nutritional value, and adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions. Efficient nutrient management plays a decisive role in determining the productivity and quality of potato. Organic nutrient sources such as farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, poultry manure, and compost are widely recognized for their beneficial effects on soil quality. These amendments improve soil physical conditions, stimulate microbial populations, enhance moisture retention, and facilitate a slow and sustained release of nutrients A field study was carried out during the rabi season of 2024-25 to assess the influence of integrated nutrient management (INM) practices on the growth, yield, and tuber quality of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Chipsona-3. The experiment included 20 treatment combinations consisting of various organic amendmentsfarmyard manure, vermicompost, poultry manure, and compostapplied in conjunction with different levels of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF: 0, 75, 100, and 125%). The trial was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications.The findings indicated that INM practices significantly improved growth, yield, and quality characteristics of the crop. Among the treatments, the application of vermicompost at 5 t ha⁻¹ along with 100% RDF (T₁₁) produced the highest tuber yield (34.44 t ha⁻¹), which was approximately 134.9% higher than the control (14.66 t ha⁻¹). This treatment also resulted in a greater number of tubers per plant (15.00), reflecting an increase of about 309%, and a higher average tuber weight (147.40 g), representing a 138.2% rise compared to the control. Growth-related parameters such as plant height and leaf area index were also notably enhanced under this treatment. Significant improvements were also observed in quality parameters. The dry matter content reached 25.48%, showing an increase of 44.4%, while ascorbic acid content (25.19 mg 100 g⁻¹) increased by 67.7% over the control. The superior performance observed under INM treatments can be attributed to improved nutrient availability, enhanced microbial activity, and more efficient nutrient utilization due to the combined use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources. These observations are consistent with recent studies that have highlighted the positive effects of integrated nutrient approaches on crop productivity, soil health, and nutrient uptake efficiency in potato and other cropping systems. Furthermore, recent reviews have emphasized that such integrated strategies contribute to sustainability and improved crop quality, particularly under intensive farming conditions.In conclusion, the integration of vermicompost with 100% RDF emerges as a promising and sustainable approach for achieving higher potato yields and better tuber quality under similar agro-climatic conditions.