The effect of foliar application of urea, humic acid and micronutrients on potato crop

ABSTRACT- The influence of foliar application of urea, humic acid (HA), Zinc (Zn), and Boron (B) on potato yield (CV. Cror) was studied in a field experiment during 2010-2012 at the research farm of Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Treatments consisted of i) Control, ii) Nitrogen-Phosphorous-potassium (NPK) (250,150,250 kg ha-1) , iii) NPK (125,75,125 kg ha-1) with 0.03% HA, iv) NPK (125,75,125 kg ha-1) with 0.5% urea, v) NPK (125,75,125 kg ha-1) with 5 kg ha-1 Zn, vi) NPK (125,75,125 kg ha-1) with 1 kg ha-1 B, vii) NPK (125,75,125 kg ha-1) with 5 kg ha-1 Zn and 1 kg ha-1 B, viii) NPK (125,75,125 kg ha-1) with 5 kg ha-1 Zn, 1 kg ha-1 B and 0.03% HA . Urea, Zn, HA, and B were sprayed at vegetative, flowering, tuber formation and ripening growth stages. Among all the mentioned treatments, maximum tuber yield was obtained in the treatment receiving half NPK (soil applied) and H.A 0.03% (foliar applied). Maximum N and P content in potato tubers were also found in the same treatment. Results showed that half NPK (soil applied) + foliar application of HA (0.03%) are economical and beneficial for the farmers of the area.