Potato J (2016) 43 (2): 200-210

Effect OF POTASSIUM AND MULCHES ON

GROWTH, YIELD AND ECONOMICS OF POTATO
Md. Ashraful Islam Pulok1, Tuhin Suvra Roy2, Md. Shahidur Rashid Bhuiyan3,
Md. Nazmul Haque2 and Nur-unnahar3
KEYWORDS: Benefit cost ratio, mulch material, potassium fertilization, potato, tuber yield

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the third

most important food crop in consumption
in the world after rice and wheat (Hancock
et al., 2014). Bangladesh ranks 7th in potato
production in the world and in Bangladesh,
potato ranks second after rice in production.
The total area, production and yield of
Bangladesh is 0.496 million hectares, 0.94 crore
MT and 19.03 t/ha, respectively (FAOSTAT,
2014). Many factors influence potato yield
and quality which include practices, cultivar,
plant population, soil type, weather conditions,
water management, fertilization, seed piece
size, pests and diseases (Divis and Barta, 2001;
Khalafalla, 2001).
Potassium (K) is one of the major nutrient
element in potato cultivation and its uptake
is highest among nutrient elements. K
influences synthesis, location, transformation
and storage of carbohydrates, tuber quality
and processing characteristics as well as plant
resistance to stress and diseases (Ebert, 2009).
According to Blagoeva et al. (2004), potatoes
are K preferring crop because they absorb
1.5-fold more K than nitrogen and 4-fold
more K than phosphorus. K increases the
size of potato tubers and not the number

(Trehan et al., 2001). So, it increases the yield

by increasing the number and yield of large
sized tubers.
Soil K reserve in soil is generally large
but most of it is incorporated in the crystal
lattice structure of minerals thus becoming
unavailable to plants. Therefore, additional
K-containing sources are necessary to supply
to provide optimal plant growth performance
and yield (Zorb et al., 2014). Regmi et al.
(2002) suggested that because of inadequate
K application, soil K imbalance in agricultural
ecosystem and stagnation of yield will become
more pronounced with time.
Potato is grown during the winter season
when rainfall is scarce and irrigation become
essential for providing sufficient moisture to
the growing crop. To minimize the cultivation
cost mulching could be effectively used
instead of irrigation. Mulching is one of the
important agronomic practice beneficial in
conserving the soil moisture, suppressing the
weeds, improving soil fertility (when organic
mulch is used) and modifying the soil physical
environment (Yoo-Jeong et al., 2003). Artificial
mulch such as crop residues, plant species

Institute of Seed Technology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar,
Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
3
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-eBangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
Email: sumon2539@gmail.com
1
2

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Potato J 43 (2): July - December, 2016

Effect of potassium and mulches on yield

or polyethylene sheet is generally practiced

for potato production (Wilhoit et al., 1990).
Mulching had significant influence on potato
growth and yield. Mulching improved seedling
emergence, plant height and numbers of stems
(Singh and Ahmed, 2008). On an average,
mulching increased tuber yield by 25% over
no mulch (Mahmood et al., 2002).
It is evident that uses of K and mulching
are the two important variables in potato
production. The aim of this work was to
evaluate the effect of K and different mulching
material and their interaction on growth, yield
and economic benefit of potato.
The experiment was conducted at the
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka,
Bangladesh, which was situated at 2346 N
latitude and 9023 E longitude at an altitude
of 8.45 meter above the sea level during
November 2013 to March 2014 in Rabi season.
The soil of the experimental site was silt loam
in texture, with pH 6.5, organic matter 1.48%,
total nitrogen 740 mg/kg, available phosphorus
7.72 mg/kg and available potassium 58.5 mg/
kg. The experimental site is under subtropical
humid climatic conditions with a mean annual
rainfall, relative humidity, maximum and
minimum temperature was 0.72 mm, 55.8%,
25.7C and 13.8C, respectively.
The experiment comprised of four different
doses of K (0, 100, 125, 150) and four different
types of mulch materials (soil mulch, rice
straw, water hyacinth and sawdust). The
experiment was laid out in a split-plot design
with three replications. K was assigned to
main plots and mulch materials to sub-plots.
The size of each unit sub plot 5.0 m 2.0 m.
The spacing between blocks and plots were
1.0 m and 0.5 m, respectively. The planting
materials comprised the first generation TPS
seedling tubers of BARI TPS-I. On an average,
potatoes were planted at 4-5 cm depth in plot.
Mulches of rice straw, water hyacinth and
Potato J 43 (2): July - December, 2016

sawdust were spread uniformly over the soil

immediately after seed sowing @ 5 t/ha on
dry weight basis. Rice straw, water hyacinth
and saw dust contains about 1.5% K, 4.6 g
K/100 g dry matter and 1.67% K.
The crop was fertilized as per
recommendation of TCRC (2004). The
experimental plot was fertilized with
cowdung @ 10 t/ha, urea-triple super
phosphate (TSP)-gypsum-zinc sulphate-boric
acid @ 325-220-120-14-6 kg/ha. Cowdung was
applied 10 days before final land preparation.
Total amount of TSP, gypsum, zinc sulphate,
boric acid and half of urea was applied at
basal doses during final land preparation. The
remaining urea was side dressed in two equal
splits at 35 and 50 days after planting (DAP)
during first and second earthing up. Different
dose of K (murate of potash) were applied as
per treatment.
Leaf chlorophyll content was measured
using a hand-held chlorophyll content SPAD
meter (SPAD-502, Minolta, Japan). At each
evaluation the content was measure 5 times
from five leaves at different positions/plant
and the average was used for analysis.
The chlorophyll meter Soil Plant Analysis
Development (SPAD-502) is a simple and
portable diagnostic tool that measures
the greenness or the relative chlorophyll
concentration of leaves (Kariya et al., 1982;
Torres-netto et al., 2005).
Above ground stem dry matter content (%)
was calculated by using the following formula:
Dry matter content (%) =

Dry weight
Fresh weight

100

Collected data on different parameters

were statistically analyzed by using MSTAT-C
(Russel, 1994) program. Mean differences
among the treatments were compared by
Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 5% level
of probability.
201

Md. Ashraful Islam Pulok, Tuhin Suvra Roy, Md. Shahidur Rashid Bhuiyan, Md. Nazmul Haque and
Nur-unnahar

Significant interaction effect of K and/or

mulch materials on plant length was observed
at different days after planting (DAP)
(Table 1). At 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 DAP, the
tallest plant (9.11, 33.35, 59.69, 76.39 and 79.61
cm, respectively) was obtained with 125 kg
K/ha and rice straw whereas, the shortest
plant (4.48, 21.78, 39.69, 51.64 and 49.41 cm,
respectively) was found from 0 kg K/ha and
soil mulch. Plant length of a crop depends on
the plant vigour, cultural practices, growing
environment and agronomic management.
In the present experiment since potato
was grown in the same environment and
was given same cultural practices except K
fertilization, therefore, the variation of plant
length might be due to the effect of different
levels of K. Abo-Sedra and Shehata (1994)
reported that application of K increased plant
length. Proper vegetative growth is needed
for potato cultivation because more tubers

were obtained from the plants from more

vegetative growth and development (Shakh
et al., 2001), Asandhi and Suryadhi (1982)
also reported that potato plant length was
markedly increased by rice straw mulching.
There was significant variation in terms
of K and/or mulch materials on the number
of leaves/plant at different growth period
of plant (Table 2). Number of leaves/plant
increased with advancing growing period up
to 80 DAP irrespective of K and mulches and
decreased thereafter. At 20, 40, 60, 80 and
100 DAP, the maximum number of leaves/
plant (12.09, 22.09, 31.28, 43.59 and 31.75) was
recorded with 125 kg K/ha and rice straw
whereas, the minimum (4.19, 10.74, 16.42, 17.38
and 18.06, respectively) was recorded from 0
kg K/ha and soil mulch. Present study showed
that 125 kg K/ha and rice straw produced
maximum number of leaves. However, this is
contrary to the findings of Sobhani et al. (2002)

Table 1. Effect of potassium and/or mulches on plant length of potato derived from TPS.
Potassium levels

Mulch materials
20 DAP

40 DAP

60 DAP

80 DAP

100 DAP

0 kg K/ha

Soil mulch

4.48 e

21.78 e

39.69 c

51.64 c

49.41 c

Rice straw

6.80 b-d

29.12 a-d

46.80 bc

63.53 a-c

61.80 a-c

Water hyacinth

6.45 b-d

27.95 b-d

43.80 bc

59.76 bc

58.97 bc

Sawdust

5.46 de

25.19 de

41.47 bc

55.42 bc

52.52 c

Soil mulch

6.96 b-d

25.39 c-e

43.33 bc

52.44 c

57.66 bc

Rice straw

7.55 a-c

29.20 a-d

48.45 bc

64.56 a-c

66.10 a-c

Water hyacinth

7.06 b-d

28.63 a-d

46.11 bc

61.55 bc

63.77 a-c

Sawdust

6.24 c-e

25.73 c-e

43.45 bc

60.22 bc

60.10 bc

Soil mulch

7.56 a-c

29.12 a-d

48.69 bc

62.61 bc

63.28 a-c

Rice straw

9.11 a

33.35 a

59.69 a

76.39 a

79.61 a

8.17 a-c

31.18 ab

50.13 b

66.72 ab

72.50 ab

100 kg K/ha

125 kg K/ha

Water hyacinth
150 kg K/ha

LSD(0.05)

Plant length (cm) at

Sawdust

7.69 a-c

29.24 a-d

48.91 b

66.50 ab

67.61 a-c

Soil mulch

6.35 b-e

27.75 b-d

44.11 bc

61.44 bc

60.06 bc

Rice straw

8.22 ab

30.30 a-c

48.67 bc

67.78 ab

68.50 a-c

Water hyacinth

6.72 b-d

28.71 a-d

47.22 bc

61.78 bc

62.11 a-c

Sawdust

6.74 b-d

27.96 b-d

46.78 bc

61.44 bc

61.61 a-c

1.925

4.919

9.155

13.28

19.28

Numbers followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p0.05 according to the LSD test

202

Potato J 43 (2): July - December, 2016

Effect of potassium and mulches on yield

Table 2. Effect of potassium and/or mulches on number of leaves/plant of potato derived from TPS.
Potassium levels
0 kg K/ha

100 kg K/ha

125 kg K/ha

150 kg K/ha

LSD(0.05)

Mulch materials

Number of leaves/plant at
20 DAP

40 DAP

60 DAP

80 DAP

100 DAP

Soil mulch

4.19 g

10.74 e

16.42 e

17.38 f

18.06 g

Rice straw

6.19 d-g

13.97 c-e

24.42 a-e

24.71 b-e

24.78 c

Water hyacinth

5.30 e-g

13.30 c-e

21.42 b-e

20.32 ef

21.67 ef

Sawdust

4.96 fg

11.52 de

17.31 de

19.43 ef

20.22 f

Soil mulch

6.22 d-g

13.66 c-e

20.67 c-e

22.56 c-f

22.56 de

Rice straw

8.11 b-d

16.78 a-e

27.33 a-c

26.67 b-d

27.44 b

Water hyacinth

7.55 c-e

16.11 a-e

23.67 a-e

23.81 b-e

24.50 c

Sawdust

6.89 c-f

18.89 a-c

21.78 b-e

23.00 c-f

23.61 cd

Soil mulch

8.87 bc

17.64 a-d

27.50 a-c

24.03 b-e

24.14 cd

Rice straw

12.09 a

22.09 a

31.28 a

43.59 a

31.75 a

Water hyacinth

10.42 ab

21.42 ab

31.17 a

29.20 b

28.26 b

Sawdust

9.20 bc

18.98 a-c

29.39 ab

27.87 bc

26.76 b

Soil mulch

7.33 c-f

14.78 c-e

23.00 a-e

21.94 d-f

22.50 de

Rice straw

8.55 b-d

17.89 a-c

28.11 a-c

29.06 b

28.17 b

Water hyacinth

7.56 c-e

15.44 b-e

24.89 a-d

24.22 b-e

24.28 c

Sawdust

7.44 c-f

13.11 c-e

24.44 a-e

23.67 b-e

24.00 cd

2.571

6.273

8.461

5.700

1.693

Numbers followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p0.05 according to the LSD test

who have showed that K had a minimal effect

on number of leaves. Singh and Zakwan (2008)
reported that number of leaves improved with
mulching. Sutater (1987) found an increase
in the number of potato leaf with different
mulching treatments. Hochmuth and Howell
(1983) also reported that leaf number of potato
were significantly higher in mulched than in
unmulched plots.
Variation was observed for stem numbers/
hill at different growth stages of potato due
to the effect of K and/or mulch materials
(Table 3). At 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 DAP,
the maximum number of stems/hill (1.44,
2.00, 2.11, 2.67 and 3.00, respectively) was
recorded from 125 kg K/ha and rice straw
whereas, the minimum (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00,
1.00, respectively) of stems/hill was recorded
from 0 kg K/ha and soil mulch. Sobhani et al.
(2002) showed that potassium had a minimal
effect on number of stems. Lu (2003) showed
Potato J 43 (2): July - December, 2016

that K fertilizer increase number of stems/hill.

Present study showed that rice straw produced
maximum number of stems/hill compare to
other mulch materials in all growing stage
which is against the finding of Asandhi and
Suryadhi (1982) who reported no effect on
the number of stems/plant due to rice straw
mulching.
Significant variation was observed in
chlorophyll content of leaves at different
stages of potato plant due to the effect of
different K levels and/or mulch materials
(Table 4). At 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 DAP,
the maximum chlorophyll content (SPAD
value) (70.32 and 74.44, 75.44, 69.16 and 59.91,
respectively) was recorded from 125 kg K/
ha and rice straw whereas, the minimum
(41.73 and 43.03, 42.72, 42.63 and 36.13,
respectively) was obtained from 125 kg K/
ha and soil mulch. Use of different K levels
varied the chlorophyll content of potato. Cao
203

Md. Ashraful Islam Pulok, Tuhin Suvra Roy, Md. Shahidur Rashid Bhuiyan, Md. Nazmul Haque and
Nur-unnahar
Table 3. Effect of potassium and/or mulches on number of stems/hill of potato derived from TPS.
Potassium levels
0 kg K/ha

100 kg K/ha

125 kg K/ha

150 kg K/ha

Mulch materials
Soil mulch

Number of stems/hill at
20 DAP

40 DAP

60 DAP

80 DAP

100 DAP

1.00 d

1.00 d

1.00 f

1.00 f

1.00 h

Rice straw

1.00 d

1.11 d

1.33 d-f

1.78 cd

2.00 c-e

Water hyacinth

1.00 d

1.11 d

1.22 ef

1.44 de

1.44 f-h

Sawdust

1.00 d

1.00 d

1.00 f

1.00 f

1.00 h

Soil mulch

1.00 d

1.00 d

1.00 f

1.00 f

1.11 h

Rice straw

1.11 cd

1.44 bc

1.44 c-e

2.22 b

2.22 b-d

Water hyacinth

1.11 cd

1.22 cd

1.50 b-d

1.56 de

1.66 ef

Sawdust

1.00 d

1.00 d

1.22 ef

1.22 ef

1.33 f-h

Soil mulch

1.33 ab

1.33 b-d

1.89 ab

1.88 bc

2.00 b-d

Rice straw

1.44 a

2.00 a

2.11 a

2.67 a

3.00 a

Water hyacinth

1.44 a

1.56 b

1.56 b-e

2.00 bc

2.33 bc

Sawdust

1.33 ab

1.44 bc

1.50 b-d

2.22 b

2.33 bc

Soil mulch

1.00 d

1.11 d

1.67 b-d

2.22 b

2.22 b-d

Rice straw

1.22 bc

1.33 b-d

1.78 a-c

2.00 bc

2.44 b

Water hyacinth

1.11 cd

1.44 bc

1.44 c-e

1.78 cd

1.78 e

Sawdust

1.00 d

1.33 b-d

1.67 b-d

1.88 bc

2.00 c-e

0.2197

0.3328

0.3575

0.4196

0.3988

LSD(0.05)

Numbers followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p0.05 according to the LSD test
Table 4. Effect of potassium and/or mulches on leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD value) of potato leaf derived from TPS.
Potassium levels

Mulch materials

0 kg K/ha

Soil mulch

100 kg K/ha

125 kg K/ha

150 kg K/ha

LSD(0.05)

Chlorophyll content (SPAD value) of leaves at

20 DAP

40 DAP

60 DAP

80 DAP

100 DAP

41.73 m

43.08 k

42.72 i

42.63 i

36.13 i

Rice straw

60.32 de

59.83 de

67.03 b-d

56.22 c-g

44.17 f-h

Water hyacinth

50.78 h-j

55.52 e-g

55.78 f-h

52.96 e-h

47.36 d-h

Sawdust

45.95 kl

47.71 i-k

50.01 h

45.88 hi

40.46 hi

Soil mulch

45.44 lm

46.88 jk

52.21 h

49.59 g-i

41.19 g-i

Rice straw

62.64 cd

66.65 bc

65.86 b-e

61.45 a-e

51.81 b-f

Water hyacinth

57.29 ef

57.43 ef

60.86 d-g

56.16 c-g

45.31 e-h

Sawdust

49.60 i-k

51.73 g-j

56.29 f-h

52.69 f-h

49.93 b-f

Soil mulch

52.73 g-i

52.39 f-i

55.58 gh

56.42 c-g

48.58 c-g

Rice straw

70.32 a

74.44 a

75.44 a

69.16 a

59.91 a

Water hyacinth

65.78 bc

67.69 bc

70.95 a-c

60.42 b-f

57.28 ab

Sawdust

55.95 fg

60.35 de

62.82 d-f

64.81 a-c

53.24 a-e

Soil mulch

48.75 j-l

49.84 h-j

54.26 gh

54.10 d-h

44.30 f-h

Rice straw

67.44 ab

70.50 ab

72.79 ab

61.77 a-d

55.99 a-c

Water hyacinth

60.78 de

64.61 cd

59.57 e-g

66.19 ab

53.88 a-d

Sawdust

53.57 f-h

54.99 e-h

65.03 c-e

58.00 b-g

49.07 c-g

3.803

5.430

7.196

8.712

7.977

Numbers followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p0.05 according to the LSD test

204

Potato J 43 (2): July - December, 2016

Effect of potassium and mulches on yield

(2003) showed that, top dressing of K fertilizer

enhance chlorophyll content in leaves. Similar
trends of result were observed by many other
researcher (Bavec and Bavec, 2001; Gler et
al., 2006). Nitrogen is the core component of
chlorophyll molecule and thus, its content
in leaf is directly correlated with chlorophyll
content. Other manifestations are concaving
membrane, bending and partial destruction as
well as changes in the accumulation and flow
of assimilates which results in the decrease of
chlorophyll content in potato leaf (Haque et
al., 2015). Thus, it is expected that the higher
sawdust may also decrease nitrogen content
in potato plant which may also cause the
decrease of chlorophyll content. The results
of the present experiment revealed that
chlorophyll content of potato leaves were
statistically affected with sawdust treatment.
At 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 DAP, significantly
wider stem diameter (0.43, 0.50, 0.70, 0.81 and

1.20 cm, respectively) was measured with 125

kg K/ha and rice straw whereas, the narrowest
(0.11, 0.24, 0.34, 0.40 and 0.47 cm, respectively)
was observed from 0 kg K/ha and soil mulch
(Table 5). In present study water hyacinth
showed wider and rice straw gave widest
width with 125 kg K/ha. Lu (2003) showed
that K fertilizer increase stem diameter.
The highest above ground stem dry matter
content (9.50, 11.43, 16.00, 20.00, 24.17%,
respectively) was obtained with 125 kg K/
ha and rice straw whereas, the lowest (5.00,
5.97, 6.23, 8.58 and 11.00%, respectively) was
recorded with 0 kg K/ha and soil mulch at
20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 DAP (Table 6). Present
study showed that stem dry matter content
(%) of potato was significantly affected up to
rice straw mulch to control treatment. This
might be due to the effect of K fertilization.
Chettri and Thapa (2002); Moinuddin and

Table 5. Effect of potassium and/or mulches on stem diameter of potato derived from TPS.
Potassium levels

Mulch materials
20 DAP

40 DAP

60 DAP

80 DAP

100 DAP

0 kg K/ha

Soil mulch

0.11 g

0.24 i

0.34 e

0.40 f

0.47 g

Rice straw

0.17 d-f

0.31 e-h

0.47 c-e

0.59 c-e

0.75 c-e

Water hyacinth

0.13 fg

0.29 g-i

0.40 de

0.55 de

0.65 d-f

Sawdust

0.14 e-g

0.27 hi

0.40 de

0.50 ef

0.52 fg

Soil mulch

0.16 d-g

0.30 f-h

0.33 e

0.47 ef

0.52 fg

100 kg K/ha

125 kg K/ha

150 kg K/ha

Stem diameter (cm) at

Rice straw

0.19 c-e

0.39 b

0.54 a-d

0.65 b-d

0.90 bc

Water hyacinth

0.15 d-g

0.33 c-g

0.44 c-e

0.60 c-e

0.70 de

Sawdust

0.18 d-f

0.32 d-h

0.41 de

0.54 d-f

0.62 e-g

Soil mulch

0.19 c-e

0.34 b-g

0.51 a-e

0.57 c-e

0.50 fg

Rice straw

0.43 a

0.50 a

0.70 a

0.81 a

1.20 a

Water hyacinth

0.24 bc

0.37 b-d

0.67 ab

0.72 a-c

0.80 cd

Sawdust

0.20 cd

0.36 b-e

0.54 a-d

0.67 a-d

0.60 e-g

Soil mulch

0.13 fg

0.34 b-g

0.41 de

0.52 d-f

0.58 e-g

Rice straw

0.28 b

0.38 bc

0.63 a-c

0.77 ab

1.00 b

Water hyacinth

0.13 fg

0.34 b-f

0.50 b-e

0.67 a-d

0.72 c-e

0.11 g

0.34 b-f

0.48 b-e

0.57 c-e

0.60 e-g

0.05329

0.05329

0.1994

0.1507

0.1767

Sawdust
LSD(0.05)

Numbers followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p0.05 according to the LSD test

Potato J 43 (2): July - December, 2016

205

Md. Ashraful Islam Pulok, Tuhin Suvra Roy, Md. Shahidur Rashid Bhuiyan, Md. Nazmul Haque and
Nur-unnahar

Shahid (2004); Roy et al. (2007) show similar

trends of results in their studies.
Effect of K and/or mulch materials on
the number of tubers/hill showed significant
variation (Table 7). Application of 125 kg
K/ha with rice straw mulch produced the
highest number of tubers/hill (11.40) and the
lowest (6.07) was recorded with 0 kg K/ha
and soil mulch. Thus the increased sized tuber
influenced on total yield of tuber. Petr et al.
(2010) concluded that straw mulch influenced
and increased the number of tubers. Burger
and Nel (1984) reported that mulching with
straw produced 30% more tubers than the no
mulch potato crops.
Potassium and/or mulch materials had
significant effect on average tuber weight
(Table 7). The maximum average tuber weight
(64.57 g) was recorded from 125 kg K/ha and
rice straw whereas, the minimum (32.54 g)

was recorded from 0 kg K/ha and soil mulch.

Sobhani et al. (2002); Lu (2003); Roy et al. (2007)
also showed that K increased the average
tuber weight. Petr et al. (2010) concluded that
straw mulch increasing the weight of tubers.
Kang-Bong Kyoon et al. (2003) concluded
that mulches increased average tuber weight
by 12-14%.
The highest tuber yield (28.89 t/ha) was
obtained with 125 kg K/ha and rice straw
and the lowest (10.45 t/ha) was found
with 0 kg K/ha and soil mulch (Table 7).
Moinuddin and Shahid (2004) showed that
increasing K levels in the nutrient medium
increased tuber yield. Lalitha et al. (2002)
showed that application of 150 kg K/ha
produced the highest tuber yield. Positive
influence of increasing K rates on potato yield
was established by Kelling et al. (2002) and
Al-Moshileh et al. (2005). Petr et al. (2012)

Table 6. Effect of potassium and/or mulches on above ground stem dry matter content (%) of potato derived from TPS.
Potassium levels

Mulch materials
20 DAP

40 DAP

60 DAP

80 DAP

100 DAP

0 kg K/ha

Soil mulch

5.00 j

5.97 f

6.23 i

8.58 h

11.00 j

Rice straw

6.27 e

8.38 b-f

11.71 c-e

12.66 e-g

15.51 f-i

Water hyacinth
100 kg K/ha

125 kg K/ha

150 kg K/ha

5.60 gh

7.07 d-f

9.31 f-h

11.80 fg

14.13 h-j

Sawdust

5.30 i

6.55 ef

7.60 hi

11.46 f-h

13.24 ij

Soil mulch

5.00 j

7.38 c-f

7.65 hi

10.77 gh

14.67 hi

Rice straw

6.87 d

9.79 a-c

13.06 bc

15.79 b-e

18.54 c-f

Water hyacinth

6.33 e

8.25 b-f

10.49 d-g

13.99 c-f

17.18 d-h

Sawdust

5.80 fg

8.05 b-f

9.87 e-g

12.69 e-g

16.62 e-i

Soil mulch

6.00 f

8.20 b-f

10.00 d-g

15.00 b-e

18.17 c-g

Rice straw

9.50 a

11.43 a

16.00 a

20.00 a

24.17 a

Water hyacinth

8.50 b

10.00 ab

14.00 ab

18.00 ab

22.17 ab

Sawdust

7.00 d

9.00 a-e

12.00 b-d

16.00 b-d

20.17 b-d

Soil mulch

5.50 hi

6.87 d-f

8.63 gh

13.00 d-g

15.00 g-i

Rice straw

8.00 c

11.50 a

13.83 b

17.00 a-c

21.00 a-c

Water hyacinth

7.00 d

9.14 a-d

12.63 bc

16.00 b-d

19.00 b-e

6.50 e

8.20 b-f

11.00 c-f

15.00 b-e

17.00 d-h

0.2611

2.534

2.066

3.180

3.444

Sawdust
LSD(0.05)

Above ground stem dry matter content (%) at

Numbers followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p0.05 according to the LSD test

206

Potato J 43 (2): July - December, 2016

Effect of potassium and mulches on yield

Table 7. Effect of potassium and/or mulches on yield and
yield components of potato derived from TPS.
Potassium Mulch
levels
materials

0 kg K/
ha

100 kg
K/ha

125 kg
K/ha

Number
of
tubers/
hill

Tuber
yield (t/
ha)

Soil mulch

6.07 h

32.54 i

10.45 i

Rice straw

8.28 c-e

45.28 e

19.12 d-g

Water hyacinth

7.58 d-g

40.95 f

16.24 f-h

Sawdust

6.93 f-h

37.05 h

13.35 hi

Soil mulch

6.72 gh

38.52 gh

13.29 hi

Rice straw

8.67 c

50.70 d

21.96 b-e

Water hyacinth

8.23 c-e

46.63 e

19.07 d-g

Sawdust

7.50 e-g

42.47 f

16.17 f-h

Soil mulch

7.67 d-f

45.50 e

20.22 d-f

Rice straw

11.40 a

64.57 a

28.89 a

Water hyacinth

10.36 b

58.07 b

26.00 ab

9.10 c

52.87 c

23.11 b-d

Soil mulch

7.15 fg

39.00 g

16.00 gh

Rice straw

10.18 b

58.50 b

24.67 bc

Sawdust
150 kg
K/ha

Average
tuber
weight
(g)

Water hyacinth
Sawdust
LSD(0.05)

8.88 c

52.00 cd

21.78 c-e

8.45 cd

46.80 e

18.80 e-g

0.8965

1.531

4.149

Numbers followed by the same letter are not significantly

different at p0.05 according to the LSD test

reported that the straw mulch used after

planting was the best mulching material for
reaching the highest yield. Petr et al. (2010)
revealed that straw mulch gave more 6.0 t/
ha yield than other textile mulches. Bhuyun
(2003) conducted that mulching treatments
showed significant effect on most of the yield
and yield components.
Economic benefit from the cultivation of
crops solely depends on the proper adjustment
of input levels and the return from the
cultivation. The highest gross and net return
(2,88,900 and 1,78,400 Taka, respectively) was
obtained with 125 kg K/ha and rice straw
and the lowest (1,04,500 and 4,500 Taka,
respectively) was obtained with 0 kg K/ha and
soil mulch (Table 8). Sharma (1994) and Lalitha
et al. (1997) also recorded enhancement in net
return with progressive application of K from
0 to 150 and 0 to 90 kg K/ha, respectively.
They also noted an increase in tuber yield
with increasing K application rates up to the
highest rate.

Table 8. Cost and return of potato cultivation as influenced by potassium and mulch materials.
Potassium levels

Mulch materials

0 kg K/ha

Soil mulch

00.00

1,00,000

Rice straw

5,000

1,05,000

Water hyacinth

6,000

Sawdust

10,000

Soil mulch
Rice straw

100 kg K/ha

125 kg K/ha

150 kg K/ha

Cost of materials Total cost of production

(Taka/ha)
(Taka/ha)

Gross return
(Taka/ha)

Net Return
(Taka/ha)

BCR

1,04,500

4,500

1.05

1,91,200

86,200

1.82

1,06,000

1,62,400

56,400

1.53

1,10,000

1,33,500

23,500

1.21

4,400

1,04,400

1,32,900

28,500

1.27

9,400

1,09,400

2,19,600

1,10,200

2.01

Water hyacinth

10,400

1,10,400

1,90,700

80,300

1.73

Sawdust

14,400

1,14,400

1,61,700

47,300

1.41

Soil mulch

5,500

1,05,500

2,02,200

96,700

1.92

Rice straw

10,500

1,10,500

2,88,900

1,78,400

2.61

Water hyacinth

11,500

1,11,500

2,60,000

1,48,500

2.33

Sawdust

15,500

1,15,500

2,31,100

1,15,600

2.00

Soil mulch

6,600

1,06,600

1,60,000

53,400

1.50

Rice straw

11,600

1,11,600

2,46,700

1,35,100

2.21

Water hyacinth

12,600

1,12,600

2,17,800

1,05,200

1.93

Sawdust

16,600

1,16,600

1,88,000

71,400

1.61

Price: Potato- 10.00 Taka/kg, MoP - 22.00 Taka/kg, Rice Straw - 1.00 Taka/kg, Water hyacinth - 1.50 Taka/kg and Sawdust - 2.00 Taka/kg

Potato J 43 (2): July - December, 2016

207

Md. Ashraful Islam Pulok, Tuhin Suvra Roy, Md. Shahidur Rashid Bhuiyan, Md. Nazmul Haque and
Nur-unnahar

The highest BCR (2.61) was obtained with

125 kg K/ha and rice straw and the second
highest BCR (2.33) was got with 125 kg K/
ha and water hyacinth. The lowest BCR (1.05)
was obtained from the 0 kg K/ha and soil
mulch (Table 8). From economic point of view,
it was apparent from the above results that
application of 250 kg K/ha with rice straw
was the best profitable. Rahaman et al. (2004)
showed highest gross margin (69,425 Taka)
from rice straw mulch followed by water
hyacinth mulch (66,084 Taka). The BCR was
highest (2.51) in rice straw followed by water
hyacinth (2.46), wastage of rice straw (2.08)
and no mulch (1.69). Higher BCR at higher
dose of potash was due to high gross and net
return from the cultivation.
Considering the results of the present
experiment, application of potassium and
different mulches had positive effect on growth
characters, yield and economic analysis of
potato. Application of 125 kg K/ha with
rice mulch seems to be more suitable for
getting higher tuber yield and BCR for BARI
TPS-I. However, to arrive at a conclusion,
more research work should be carried out at
different areas.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors acknowledge the funding
of this study from the Ministry of Science
and Technology-Government of the People's
Republic of Bangladesh.

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MS received: 03 July 2016; Accepted: 28 November 2016

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