Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(9): 2516-2520 2516 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.709.312 Effect of Foliar Application of Nutrients on Growth, Yield and Quality of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) under Hill Zone of Karnataka, India Shanwaz Ahmad * , Devaraju, V. Srinivasa, M. Ganapathi, M. Shivaprasad and A.S. Shubha Department of vegetable science, College of Horticulture, Mudigere, University of Horticulture and Agricultural sciences, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the world’s fourth important food crop after wheat, rice and maize because of its great yield potential and high nutritive value. In Karnataka potato being one of the most important short duration cash crops. The average yield of potato in Karnataka state is much lower (14 t ha-1) as compared to national average. At present, to fulfill the needs of increasing population, one of the possibilities is to increase the area as well as productivity. However, for increasing productivity and quality, nutrition is a key factor in production technology will have to be given emphasis, to produce higher yields of good quality tubers by evolving fertilizer schedules that are suited to specific agro- ecological situations. It is now established that, fertilizer is a kingpin in the process of improving yield and quality of any crop. The sources of nutrients especially that of major nutrients do have an effect on plant growth, yield and quality of the crop. In view of these facts, the study was under taken to know the effect of foliar application of nutrients on yield and quality of potato. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 09 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com A field experiment was conducted to know the “Effect of foliar application of nutrients on growth and yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)” at department of vegetable science, College of Horticulture, Mudigere during 2017-18. The results revealed that foliar applications of micronutrient mixture @ 5g/lit recorded significantly higher plant height (63.40 cm), number of leaves (189.20), number of stem (5.87), plant spread (52.31 cm), Leaf area index (5.67), fresh weight of leaf (55.07 g), fresh weight of stem (81.69 g), dry weight of leaf (7.93 g), dry weight of stem (14.52 g), dry weight of root (5.76 g), total dry matter production (28.21 g/plant) with respect to growth parameters at 90 days after planting. Yield and quality parameters viz. applications of micronutrient mixture @ 5g/lit recorded significantly maximum yield per plant (249.6 gm), yield per plot (7.49 kg), marketable yield per hectare (18.72 t/ha) and higher quality parameter viz. TSS (6.20 ºbrix), reducing sugar (1.45%), non-reducing sugar (0.96%) and starch (19.00%)as compared to control. Keywords Micronutrient, Potato Accepted: 18 August 2018 Available Online: 10 September 2018 Article Info