Performance of potato on mechanical planter with diverse irrigation method

Abstract

Efficient planting techniques combined with appropriate irrigation methods play a crucial role in maximizing potato yields and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices. A field experiment was conducted Regional Agricultural Research Station, Jashore, Bangladesh, spanning the seasons of 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. The experiment employed the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) developed potato planter for mechanized planting, compared with manual planting under three irrigation methods: i) Farmer practice (irrigation in both furrows), ii) Alternate furrow irrigation, and iii) Drip irrigation. The experiment was arranged in a split plot design with three replications. Among the irrigation methods tested, drip irrigation demonstrated superior performance, achieving higher yields while conserving approximately 48% of irrigation water compared to farmer practice. Additionally, the study found that mechanized planting using the potato planter resulted in higher yields compared to manual planting, reducing labor requirements by about 92%. Specifically, drip irrigation combined with mechanized planting using the potato planter yielded the highest tuber production, followed by alternate furrow irrigation combined with mechanized planting. This research underscores the efficacy of combining mechanized potato planting with drip irrigation for maximizing yields and optimizing resource use in potato cultivation systems.