Evaluation of Potato Genotypes under High Hill Conditions of Nepal

Coordinated Varietal Trial (CVT) on different genotypes of potato received from National Potato Research Program (NPRP), Khumaltar, Lalitpur was carried out at Horticultural Research Station, Rajikot, Jumla at an altitude of 2396 m above mean sea level during two consecutive years 2019 and 2020 to evaluate potato genotypes suitable for the high hills of Karnali province of Nepal. Nine different potato genotypes with two checks i.e. Desiree and Jumli Local were tested on Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Each treatment was replicated four times. Compost was used at the rate of 20 tons per hectare. There was no use of chemical fertilizer. Well sprouted tubers of 25-50 g were planted with 60cm x 25cm spacing. The effects of different genotypes were recorded for both vegetative as well as yield parameters. Tested genotypes differed significantly for vegetative (emergence percentage at 30 days after planting & 45 days after planting, uniformity, ground coverage, plant height, number of main stems) as well as yield parameters (total number of tubers and tuber yield per ha). The highest tuber yield (20.9 t/ha) was harvested from CIP 392797.22. Result of consecutive years showed that potato genotype CIP 392797.22 is suitable for cultivation in high hills of Karnali province for food as well as nutritional security.