Vol. 4, Issue 1, Part A (2022)

A field experiment was conducted during the year 2018-19 and 2019-20 at ICAR-CPRI-RS, Gwalior (M.P) to Evaluation of micro irrigation for improving productivity and water use efficiency in. The investigation comprised of sixteen treatments and each treatment was repeated thrice in split plot design. The treatments comprised of irrigation systems- S1: drip irrigation system, S2: sprinkler irrigation system; irrigation mulching- M1: no mulch, M2¬: paddy straw mulch @ 5 t/ha, M3: polythene sheet mulch (25µ thickness), M4: spray of chemical formulation at TIS & Bulking stage (40 & 65 DAP) and their combination. The results show that plant population per plot found higher with treatment S1M3 at 30 DAP (88.17) and at maturity (90.50); number of compound leaves/plant found higher with treatment S1M3 at 30 DAP (39.70), at 60 DAP (53.09) and at maturity (54.90); number of tubers/plant found maximum with treatment S2M3 at 30 DAP (2.90), at 60 DAP (12.41) and at maturity (13.04); higher root shoot ratio found higher in treatment S1M2 at 30 DAP (0.334), at 60 DAP (0.293) and at maturity (0.297) treatment S1M1 recorded maximum root shoot ratio; chlorophyll content found higher in treatment S1M3 at 30 DAP (51.78), at 60 DAP (45.67) and at maturity (39.56); Fresh haulm yield (26.047 t/ha) found higher with S2M2; Fresh tuber yield (38.415 t/ha) found higher with S2M2; starch content of potato tuber (13.8%) found higher in treatment S1M2; water content of potato tuber (81.84%) found higher in treatment S1M1; N (91.074 kg/ha), P (19.891 kg/ha), K (140.855 kg/ha) uptake by potato tuber is found higher with treatment S2M2; N (66.258 kg/ha), P (15.956 kg/ha), K (68.883 kg/ha) uptake by potato haulm is found higher with treatment S2M2; significantly higher gross return (Rs. 1,92,075/-), net return (Rs. 1,13,056/-), B:C ratio (2.43) and harvest index (60.23%). While, minimum gross return (Rs. 1, 11,045/-), net return (Rs. 33,026/-), B: C ratio (1.42) and harvest index (53.07%) recorded with treatment S2M1.