~ 1798 ~  International Journal of Chemical Studies 2017; 5(6): 1798-1803                     P-ISSN: 2349–8528  E-ISSN: 2321–4902 IJCS 2017; 5(6): 1798-1803 © 2017 IJCS Received: 15-09-2017 Accepted: 17-10-2017   SP Singh ICARCentral Potato Research Institute-RS, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India Anuj Bhatnagar ICAR Central Potato Research Institute -RS, Modipuram, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India VK Dua Central Potato Research Institute Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India SK Sharma ICARCentral Potato Research Institute-RS, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India MJ Sadawarti ICARCentral Potato Research Institute-RS, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India Correspondence SP Singh ICARCentral Potato Research Institute-RS, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India Effect of planting windows on production of Kufri Khyati: An early bulking potato cultivar for Central India SP Singh, Anuj Bhatnagar, VK Dua, SK Sharma and MJ Sadawarti Abstract Field experiment was conducted to study the performance of potato CV. Kufri Khyati to aberrations of temperature and rains in relation to production and incidence of disease and pests at Central Potato Research Station, Gwalior, India. Potato cultivar Kufri Khyati was planted with four planting windows viz 15 th September, 30 th September, 15 th October and 30 th October for three consecutive years during 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12. Data revealed that early planting of potato CV. Kufri Khyati at higher temperature delayed tuberization, reduced tuber number (259,000/ha) and finally there was a drastic reduction in tuber yields (9.5 t/ha) with net returns showed negative (Rs 14612/ha) trend. The B: C ratio was also less than 1 in 15 th September planted crop along with higher incidence of mite, thrips and stem necrosis disease. The highest N uptake (92 kg/ha) was recorded with 15 th October planted crop, however it was lowest with 15 th September planted crop. The highest nitrogen use efficiency (182 kg tuber/kg N applied) and water use efficiency (109 kg tuber/mm water) was recorded with 15 th October planted crop with low incidence of pests and diseases. Severe mite, thrips and stem necrosis disease incidence were recorded in 15 and 30th September planting window of potato. Thus, the planting window of 30 th October is the most suitable planting date for potato cv. Kufri Khyati for ware crop to get maximum tuber yield, low incidence of mite and thrips and higher net profit in Central India. Keywords: planting window, climate change, N use efficiency, N uptake, water use efficiency Introduction Emergence and plant development are greatly affected by environmental factors such as temperature, rainfall and sunlight, which are not controlled by growers. One of the most important grower controlled factors is the decision on when to plant. Every production region has an “optimum” planting window during which conditions are most favourable for producing the highest potential yield in a given season. Planting before this window tends to reduce yields by exposing the crop to stresses, such as unfavourable soil conditions, high temperature and humidity, which tend to reduce yield. Likewise, planting after this optimum window also reduces potential yield by reducing the days available for plant growth and tuber bulking. The changing climate (specially rise in Temperature and aberrant rains) is going to affect the crop yields through out the world. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important food crops in India. Extreme weather fluctuations are widely depressing agricultural yields, increasing production instability, and degrading natural resources. If the change is not managed adequately, the agricultural yields will drop by up to 20% by the year 2050 (Hijmans, 2003) [9] . Temperature, level of green house gases, rainfall, and high humidity directly affect the crops, pathogens, insects, and weeds (Savary et al., 2011) [16] . Several new diseases, weeds, and insect pests have started appearing with the changing climate. High day temperatures have both direct and indirect damaging effects associated with hot tissue temperatures, plant water deficits due to high transpiration, and low plant water potentials (Hall, 2001) [8] . Potato has been thermo-sensitive and was productive only under long day conditions in temperate climate. But development of heat tolerant cultivars and adjustment in production system management has made it possible to have very high productivity in subtropical and warmer climate. Temperature controls the plant growth, development and yield and day degrees are normally used to quantify its effect. The partitioning of dry matter into the different organs viz. leaves, stems and roots has been found to be a function of development stage which in turn is a function of accumulated heat units. Threats to crops from increase in temperature are i) increased risk of higher average temperature at critical stages ii) Increased risk of more