Nitrogen and sulphur role in potato (Solanum tuberosum) nutrition on brownhill soil of Shimla

A field study was conducted at Kufri (Shimla) during 1991 and 1992 to evalu ate the effect of N and S on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). The results rev ealed a significant response to N and S in potato. The optimum N dose varie d from 143-173 kg/ha with potato tuber yield response ranging from 18 to 25 tonnes/ha, whereas optimum sulphur dose varied from 27 to 30 kg Siha with yield response of 5 to 8 tonnes/ha. Interaction between N and S was non-sig nificant in terms of potato tuber yield, however the combined application o f N and S had a positive effect on potato tuber quality, increase in the co ncentration of crude protein (93.8 %), S (56.0 SC), P (4.0 %) and uptake of nutrients. Increase in N dose from 60 to 180 kg/ha decreased N recovery fr om 63.7 to 39.5 % but increased P recovery (14.0 %) and S recovery (19.5 %) . Similarly, S application tended to increase N recovery (25.8 %) and P rec overy (7.8 %). A significant relationship was obtained between leaf S and f inal tuber yield at stolen formation and tuber initiation stage.