The Response of Selected Potato Varieties to Different Levels of Vermicompost in Bangaladesh

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of five levels of vermicompost application on the yield and quality of various potato varieties at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in Bangladesh. The experiment was conducted following a two-factor split-plot design with three replications and four potato varieties (BARI Alu-68, BARI Alu-29, BARI Alu-25, and BARI Alu-28) along with five levels of vermicomposting (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 t ha⁻¹). The important agronomic parameters (i.e. the number of tubers per hill, average tuber weight, and overall tuber yield) were significantly affected due to both variety and level of vermicompost. BARI Alu-25 (Asterix) emerged as the superior variety, exhibiting the highest average tuber weight (49.07 g), tuber yield (28.38 t ha⁻¹), and starch content (22.72 mg g⁻¹ FW). Higher vermicompost applications (9 and 12 t ha⁻¹) generally resulted in improved yield and quality metrics, such as increased tuber weight and marketable yield. Additionally, vermicompost positively influenced processing qualities like dry matter content, total soluble solids, and starch content, which are crucial for potato processing. Strong correlation (r= .., P< …. ) between various yield and quality parameters highlighting the potential of vermicompost as a sustainable soil amendment. The findings suggest that optimizing vermicompost use can enhance potato production and quality, offering economic benefits to farmers and contributing to sustainable agricultural practices in Bangladesh. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term effects and interactions with other agronomic practices.