Vegetos

Abstract

Potatoes, a good source of antioxidant can prove low cost supplement in Indian diet for Fig ht against malnourishment, which is presently growing at alarming rate. Qualitative parameters viz. antioxidants, starch, dry matter, secondary metabolites etc. in potato are influenced by genotype and environmental conditions. The antioxidants contents can be enhanced significantly by employing suitable variety, cultivation regimes and environmental stresses. Present research reports the identification of antioxidant affluent variety, effect of macronutrients on antioxidants content in tubers per say and compound antioxidants yield in short duration crop under heat stress condition. Among prevalent ten potato varieties, Kufri Surya was adjudged best with maximum ascorbic acid (20.4mg 100g FW⁻¹) and carotenoids contents (44.0μg 100g FW⁻¹) and moderate phenols in fully matured tubers. The results indicated that Kufri Surya tubers harvested at infancy (60 day) could achieve moderate levels of ascorbic acid (11.0 mg 100g FW⁻¹), maximum phenols (59.9 mg 100g FW⁻¹) and highest tuber dry matter (18.4%) with 240 kg N ha⁻¹. Application of 240 kg N ha⁻¹ had better tuber yield (9.2 t ha⁻¹), highest total phenols yield (5.5 kg ha⁻¹) and comparable ascorbic acid productivity (1.01 kg ha⁻¹). Likewise, ascorbic acid and tuber dry matter were increased significantly by phosphorous and potash nutrients, whereas total phenols improved marginally. The highest tuber yield (8.9 t ha⁻¹), compounded yield of ascorbic acid (1.51kg ha⁻¹) and total phenols (4.98 kg ha⁻¹) were harnessed with 60 kg P₂O₅ and 100 kg K₂O ha⁻¹. The findings suggest that macronutrients N, P₂O₅ and K₂O applied @ 240, 60 and 100 kg ha⁻¹, respectively were most appropriate levels for harnessing optimum antioxidants yield with >18.0% tuber dry matter in 60 days early crop of potato variety Kufri Surya.