Exploration of Sugar Industry Byproduct (Biocompost) as a Nutrient Source for Potato (Solanun1 Tuberosun1 L.) And Maintenance of Soil Fertility

Abstract

A field experiment on potato was conducted on sandy loam soil at Horticulture I Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, during rabi season 2007-08. Fourteen treatments consisting of different levels of inorganic fertilizers (25, 37.5, 50, 62.5, 75, 87.5 and 100% NPK), biocompost (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 t ha-1 ) and control were tested in randomized block design with three replications. Kufri Bahar a variety of potato was grown in the experiment. Among the various treatments of inorganic fertilizers and biocompost, treatment where 100% RDF of NPK was applied proved to be superior than the other treatments in terms of growth parameters, tuber yield macronutrients content. However micronutrients content in tuber were found higher in the treatments of biocompost application. By comparing the tuber yields obtained in the different treatments at harvesting, it was found that 50% inorganic NPK can be saved with the application of biocompost @ 12t ha-1 Micronutrients content in soil was buffered to its initial value with the application of different doses of biocompost while declined in case of