Effect of Plant Growth Regulators and Micro-Nutrients on Yield, Quality Seed Production and Storage of Potato in Tista Floodplain Soils of Bangladesh

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Domar BADC farm, Sonaroy, Domar, Nilphamari from November to March of 2010-11 and at farmer's field at Debiganj, Panchaghar from November to March of 2011-12 to study the effect of plant growth regulators and micronutrients on yield, quality seed production and storage of potato in Tista Floodplain soils of Bangladesh. Three cultivars namely, Diamant (V1 ), Asterix (V2) and Granola (V3) and six treatments on plant growth regulators and micronutrients including control. Results showed that physiological parameters like TDM and LAI increased with the advancement of plant age while SLA and L WR decreased with the increase of plant age. CGR was slow at early growth stage. With a few exception, the highest NAR values was found in control at all harvest. RGR, RLGR and LAR showed maximum values at early stages of growth and decrease gradually with the increase of plant age. All the yield contributing characters i.e, plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of haulms per plant and number of tubers per plant were varied significantly by the application of plant growth regulators and micronutrients. With a few exceptions, the highest yield contributing characters were recorded in Vitaplus+Wuxalsuper treatment. The lowest values were found in control. Harvest index was influenced significantly and the highest harvest index was obtained from Brassinosteroid+ Wuxalsuper treatment. The highest BCR value was observed in Vitaplus+Wuxalsuper treatment. Cold storage performance of both public and private were studied. Morphological appearance of the tuber of BADC cold storage, Domar was very positive in respect of weight loss, distorted, shriveled, early sprouted and colour in comparison to other two cold storages. The highest weight loss of tubers (10.00-11.28%) were observed in Vitaplus and Brassinosteroid treatment. The lowest weight loss (6.25%) was observed in unsprayed control treatment. The average weight loss (10.70%) was observed in private cold storages and the lowest weight loss (5.00%) was observed in BADC cold storage, Domar. As a seed potato, the highest BCR value was observed in Wuxalsuper treatment. On the other hand, the lowest BCR value was recorded in Brassionsteroid treatment. Some seed quality contributing characters i.e, number of total eyes per tuber, number of haulms per tuber, number of days to shoot emergence and seed vigour index were varied significantly due to the application of plant growth regulators and micronutrients. The maximus number of total eyes and number of haulms per tuber were obtained from Vitaplus+ Wuxalsuper treatment. The lowest number of eyes and haulms per tuber in unsprayed control treatment. At least 2-3 short days in comparison to average time of emergence needed to emerge shoot in treatments with plant growth regulators. The highest seed vigour was obtained from the tubers stored at BADC cold storage, Domar. The highest value of seed quality contributing characters was recorded in Domar BADC cold storage in comparison to other two private cold storages .