RICE HUSK ASH (RHA) - A POTENTIAL SOURCE FOR IMPROVING PHOSPHORUS NUTRITION IN POTATO (S. tuberosum L.)

Use of alternative sources of nutrients such organic manures, residues and by-products to chemical fertilizers may enhance not only the yield but cut down the fertilizers use. Therefore, present investigation was carried out to explore the possibility of using rice husk ash (RHA) as a source of phosphorus in potato crop. Two pot experiments were conducted on Kufri Jyoti and Kufri Girdhari to determine the effect of rice husk ash on phosphorus nutrition of the crop during 2020-21. Application of rice husk ash (RHA) significantly increased the plant height, haulms (leaf plus stem) biomass, root weight, chlorophyll content (SPAD value) and P content. In Kufri Jyoti, application of 20g RHA per pot significantly increased haulms biomass, tuber yield, relative leaf chlorophyll content and P content in haulms by 17.8 per cent over control. In Kufri Girdhari, application of 40g RHA/ pot also increased the P content by (14.6 %) in haulms over control besides significant increase in haulm yield, root mass and relative leaf chlorophyll content. It was observed that subjecting the crop to moisture stress by withholding the irrigation towards harvest, senescence was delayed in plants fertilized with rice husk ash. RHA application showed a significant and positive correlation with root length and tuber yield (r=0.70). The results of the present study revealed that RHA can be used as a source of phosphorus for potato crop and has potential to improve water relations and nitrogen nutrition as indicated by improved relative leaf chlorophyll content in plants fertilized with RHA.