Screening of Potato Cultivars under Saline Soil of Canning, West Bengal

A field trial was conducted to judge the agronomic performances of potato cultivars in saline soil during the winter seasons of 2022-23 and 2023-24 with six potato cultivars i.e., Kufri (K.) Khyati, Kufri Lima, Kufri Himalini, Kufri Mohan, Kufri Ganga and Kufri Jyoti (Local check) under four replications in a randomized complete block design at farmer's field in Canning I block of West Bengal. The EC values of the coastal soil increased (from ~1 to ~4.0 dS m-1) invariably during the experimental season i.e., from November to March for both the years of experimentation. Among the tested cultivars, K. Lima, and K. Jyoti followed by K. Himalini recorded significantly better growth attributes (plant height, number of compound leaves plant-1 and number of stem plant-1 at 60 days after planting or DAP) and total tuber yield (26.0 and 29.8, 26.0 and 31.0, and 24.0 and 31.0 t ha-1 during 2022-23 and 2023-24 for K. Lima, K. Jyoti and K. Himalini, respectively). Plant vigour at 90 DAP was found to vary between good and excellent for all the tested potato cultivars. The maximum and minimum extent of leaf senescence at 90 DAP occurred in the case of K. Mohan and K. Himalini, respectively. Skin colour, flesh colour and tuber shape varied among tested cultivars and matched with true genetic character. These three cultivars can be recommended for the coastal saline zone of the state and in other areas having similar climatic and soil conditions.