On-farm Evaluation of Potato Genotypes at High Hills of Karnali Province, Nepal

Abstract

An on-farm varietal trial was carried out to evaluate promising genotypes of potatoes received from the National Potato Research Program (NPRP), Khumaltar at Urthuchautara settlement of Patrashi Rural Municipality of Jumla, Nepal at an altitude of 2430 meters above mean sea level during two consecutive years 2019 and 2020. Four promising potato genotypes: PRP 226567.2, PRP 136769.1, CIP 395077.242, CIP 393617.1 and two check cultivars i.e. Desiree and Jumli Local were tested in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Each treatment was replicated four times. Compost was used at the rate of 20 tons per hectare (t/ha) and there was no chemical fertilizer used. Well-sprouted tubers of 25-50 g were planted at 60cm x 25cm spacing. Observations were recorded on vegetative parameters as well as yield attributes. Among different parameters observed most all the vegetative as well as yield and yield attributing parameters were found significant among each other whereas emergence at 45 DAP and plant height during 2020 were found non-significant. The highest tuber yield (30.88 t/ha) was recorded in PRP 226567.2 followed by PRP 136769.1 (23.89 t/ha). Based on the average of two-year results, PRP 226567.2(30.88 t/ha) and PRP 136769.1 (23.89 t/ha) were superior for the purpose of variety recommendation for high hills of Karnali province.