Physiological Parameters and Quality of Potato under Different Planting Dates

A field experiment was conducted to study the influence of planting dates on physiological parameters and quality of potato cropduring the Rabi seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23. The experiment was laid out with seven different planting dates viz., 15 Sept (D1); 30 Sept (D2); 15 Oct (D3); 30 Oct (D4) (Timely planting); 14 Nov (D5); 29 Nov (D6) and 14 Dec (D7) in randomized block design (RBD) with four replications. The potato (cv. Kufri Mohan) was planted with a seed rate of 3.5 t ha-1 and with a spacing of 60 cm x 20 cm. The recommended dose of chemical fertilizers viz., 180:80:120 kg ha-1N:P2O5:K2O, respectively was applied to the crop. The various physiological parameters viz., crop growth rate, relative growth rate and absolute growth rate; and quality parameters (protein, starch, dry matter and true density) were recorded. The results revealed that the timely planting treatment date (30 Oct) showed significant positive effect on physiological parameters in potato crop whereas effect was at par with respect to the quality parameters under studied planting dates.