EFFECT OF INTER ROW SPACING ON THE PRODUCTION OFMINI-TUBERS OF POTATO

摘要

An experiment was carried out at Central Potato Research Station, Muthorai, The Nilgiris during autumn crop season 2009 and 2010 to find out the suitable plant spacing for obtaining optimum number and size of mini-tubers. The well sprouted micro-tubers of Kufri Giriraj was planted in two inter row spacing viz., 30 xlOcm and 20 xl 0cm with two plant densities viz., 33 and 50 micro-tubers m2 respectively. One micro-tuber was planted per hill. The wider inter row spacing (30cm) with lower plant densityresulted in more number of mini-tubers 4.02 per plant, higher mini-tuber yield 95.94 g/plant and total mini-tuber yield 28.77 t/ha as compared to closer spacing (20cm). The micro-tuber planted at 30x10 cm was better in improving the size of mini-tubers and reducing the proportion of <3g mini-tubers over the closed spacing (20x10cm). Production of mini tubers are costly, so on the basis of yield of mini tubers produced per plant and total mini tuber yield higher in inter-row spacing 30cm and intra row spacing of 10cm were found best for mini tubers production under net house condition.