Productivity and Economics of Potato Grown with Organics Fertilization in Comparison to Inorganic Fertilizers

A field experiment was conducted on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) at Vegetable Research Station Kalyanpur, Kanpur (U.P.) during 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 in sandy loam soil. Six different treatments of organic fertilization were tested against the control treatment of recommended inorganic NPK fertilizers. Organic treatments consisted crop residue incorporation, its management, biofertilizers (Azotobacter and phosphobacteria), vermicompost @ 5 t ha^-1 or FYM @ 20 t ha^-1 and recommended N based FYM application alone. Based on pooled data over years, treatment of recommended NPK fertilizers (180 kg N + 80 kg P₂O₅ + 100 kg K₂O ha^-1) produced highest potato tuber yield of 35.04 t ha^-1 and earned maximum of Rs. 125177 ha^-1 net return. It was followed by N based FYM application with 32.66 t ha^-1 yield and Rs.109814 ha^-1 net return. The treatment of crop residue management + biofertilizers + vermocompost @ 5 t ha^-1 also produced considerable potato yield of 30.26 t ha^-1 with Rs. 100543 ha^-1 net return. Therefore, these two organics practices may serve as alternative of NPK inorganic fertilizers without much reduction in yield and net return and fear of pollution hazards.