EFFECT OF MAGNESIUM AND SULFUR FERTILIZER ON YIELD, DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF SEED POTATO

A study was undertaken to find out the effects of two major nutrient elements such as Magnesium (Mg) and Sulfur (S) on plant growth, tuber, and tuber disease incidence of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Data were recorded on stem number/ten hills, plant height, canopy coverage, tuber number per ten plants, tuber weight per plot and incidence of diseases such as common scab (Streptomyces scabis), dry rot (Fusarium sp.) and soft rot (Erwinia carotovora) of potato. The doses of nutrients were Mg @ 0, 10, 15, 20 kgha^-1 and S @ 0, 10, 20, 30 kgha^-1. Every nutrient increased plant growth and tuber yield but decreased disease incidence considerably over control up to second highest dosage. The highest yield of 33.61 and 31.50 tha^-1 were obtained with 15 kgha-1 Mg and 20 kgha-1 S. When the two elements were applied together at 15 kgha-1 Mg and 20 kgha^-1 S independently, the highest tuber yield of 35.48 tha^-1, and the incidence of tuber diseases and disorders were also minimal. Based on findings of the present study it may be concluded that application of Mg, 21.11 kg and S, 4.28 kgha^-1 along with 140 kg N ha^-1 are optimum for maximum plant growth, tuber yield and minimize incidence of disease and disorders of potato tuber.