Impact of Trichoderma application as bio-stimulator on disease suppression, growth and yield of potato

Abstract

Excess use of chemical fertilizers and synthetic chemicals to increase the growth and yield as well as controlling disease often reduced soil fertility, adversely affect human health and environment. That’s why an experiment was accomplished in the Horticulture farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from November 2016 to March 2017 to study the impact of Trichoderma application as bio-stimulator on potato production. The study comprised of three Trichoderma treatments, (i) T0= No Trichoderma application, (ii) T1= 106spores/ml and (iii) T2= 108spores/ml. Trichoderma 1ml/L (1000 ppm) solution was applied two times in each plot at 15 and 45 days after planting (DAP). Data on growth yield and disease suppression parameters showed significant variation. The results elluciated that application of Trichoderma increased the growth attributes positively and produced 23.82% and 11.33% higher yield in T2 and T1 compared to no application of Trichoderma, respectively. Trichoderma (108spores/ml) improved tuber yield by optimizing the dry matter content. Furthermore, application of Trichoderma decreased the disease infestation and the best result (1.60%) recorded in T2. Therefore, 108spores/ml of Trichoderma application can be considered the potential bio-stimulator for prospective potato production with higher growth, yield and suppress of disease.