Impact of Biochar and Inorganic Fertilizers combined with Bio-zyme granules on Yield attributes of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Abstract

Field investigation was carried out to study the impact of impact of biochar and inorganic fertilizers with bio-zyme granules on growth and yield parameters in potato condition during 2022-2023 and 2023-24. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with three levels of biochar, three levels of inorganic fertilizers and two levels of bio-zyme granules [Ascophyllum nodosum]. Growth parameters like plant height, number of leaves per plant and number of tubers per plant and yield attributing parameters like total yield (t ha^-1), stover yield, biological yield and harvest index.  However, T₁₈ [Biochar 7.5 t ha^-1+RDF@100%+Biozyme granules @50 kg ha^-1] has shown the effect application of biochar and inorganic fertilizer with biozyme granules which has shown high growth rate in plant height, number of leaflets per plant and number of tubers per plant which has increased in two consecutive years but non-significantly interact with factors at p-level 0.05. Tuber yield of T₁₈ has shown 45.23 t ha^-1 and 43.86 t ha^-1 in two years. Among the various treatments tested, T₁₈ stood out for achieving a significantly higher straw yield of 15.57 and 15.02 (t ha^-1) and biological yield 60.81 t ha^-1 and 58.87 t ha^-1. However, it is worth noting that the stover yield slightly decreased in 2023-24 compared to the previous year due to disease pressure and unfavorable climatic conditions. Nonetheless, T₁₈ still demonstrated a substantial stover yield. Following closely behind T₁₈ were treatments T₅, T13, and T10. By utilizing the combined benefits of biochar and inorganic fertilizers with biozyme granules, farmers can boost productivity while lessening environmental harm, thus aiding in long-term food security and agricultural sustainability.