Effect of management practices on productivity of potato (Solanum tuberosum)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) crop sequence

A field experiment was conducted during 1991-92 to 1993-94 to study the effect of management practices on the productivity of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend, Fiori & Paol.) crop sequence. The treatments comprised combination of potato cultivars ('Kufri Chandramukhi' and 'Kufri Bahar'), pome planting dates (first week and third week of October) and potato lifting dates and subsequent sowing of wheat (mid-December, first week of January, mid-and end of January). Potato cultivar 'Kufri Bahar' and third week of October planting gave high yield. Delay in lifting of potato up to 15 January increased the tuber yield over the earlier harvest Wheat following potato 'Kufri Chandramukhi' gave higher yield than that following 'Kufri Bahar' and date of planting of potato did not affect the yield of wheat. Progressive delay in harvest of potato and sowing of wheat significantly reduced the wheat yields. Wheat-equivalent yield of the crop sequence as a whole was higher with potato 'Kufri Bahar' when planted in third week of October and harvested on 31 December, followed by immediate sowing of wheat.