Effect of Graded Levels of Nitrogen and Potassium on Growth and Yield of Elephant Foot Yam [Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson] Under Terai Region of West Bengal

Author: Ankita Debnath, Ram Krishna Sarkar, J.C. Jana, Safal Rai and Sindhu V.

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Abstract

In the current status of research on this so far, a very meager number of findings on nutrient management with nitrogen and potassium fertilizer applications are available in the Terai region of West Bengal. Therefore, it has become very important to find out how appropriate fertility levels affect the growth and yield of elephant foot yam in this region. The present experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Regional Research Sub-Station (TZ), Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kharibari, Darjeeling during 2019-20 and 2020-21 to study the effect of nitrogen and potassium on growth and yield of elephant foot yam var. Bidhan Kusum. The experiment was laid out in 5 x 3 factorial randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Individually, nitrogen and potassium levels had a significant impact on practically all growth including plant height, canopy spread and leaflet number and yield indices. Among the treatments investigated, T11 (N @ 200 kg/ha and K2O @ 100 kg/ha) produced the highest corm yield in terms of corm bulking rate (CBR), corm diameter, corm weight and corm yield during both trials. As a result, fertilizer doses of 200 kg/ha nitrogen and 100 kg/ha potassium may be recommended for higher yields of elephant foot yam under Terai agro-climatic conditions in West Bengal.

Keywords

Elephant foot yam, nitrogen, potassium, growth, yield

Conclusion

The aforementioned experiment with the elephant foot yam var. Bidhan Kusum showed that increasing levels of nitrogen and potassium fertilizer significantly affected almost all of the plant's growth characteristics, but that applying too much nitrogen and potassium fertilizer might reduce the corm yield. The information presented in the aforementioned figures made it abundantly evident that T11 (N @ 200 kg/ha +K2O@ 100 kg/ha) offered the highest yields and economic returns. Therefore, for increased yields of elephant foot yam under Terai agro-climatic conditions in West Bengal, fertilizer doses including 200 kg/ha of nitrogen and 100 kg/ha of potassium may be advised.

References

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How to cite this article

Ankita Debnath, Ram Krishna Sarkar, J.C. Jana, Safal Rai and Sindhu V. (2023). Effect of Graded Levels of Nitrogen and Potassium on Growth and Yield of Elephant Foot Yam [Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson] Under Terai Region of West Bengal. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(8a): 133-139.