Eliciting Physiological and Biochemical Effects of Agronomic Management in Chinese Potato [Plectranthus rotundifolius (Poir) Spreng]

Background: Chinese potato [Plectranthus rotundifolius (Poir.) J.K. Morton] also known as coleus is cultivated in many parts of the world for its edible tubers. Despite a high production potential, the productivity of Chinese potato appears to be limited by a lack of balance between the source and sink capacities. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of agronomic management practices viz., planting methods, nutrient management and growth promoters on physiological and biochemical responses in Chinese potato. Methods: An investigation was undertaken at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during October to February of 2019 - ‘20 and repeated in 2020 - ’21 in split plot design with five methods of planting as main plots (bed/ridge method of planting with 30 cm x 15 cm, 30 cm x 30 cm and mound method of planting with 30 cm x 30 cm spacing) and six combinations of nutrient management practices (60:30:120 kg NPK/ha with and without PGPR Mix 1) and growth promoters (humic acid, benzyl adenine and water spray) as sub-plot treatments replicated four times. Result: The results revealed the superiority of bed method of planting at 30 cm x 15 cm spacing with the application of 60:30:120 kg NPK ha-1 + PGPR Mix 1 + humic acid (m1n1g1) on physiological attributes viz. DMP, CGR and LAI was found most productive resource management practice in Chinese potato.