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The present field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) seasons of 2018–19 and 2019–20 at ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Regional Station Jalandhar, Punjab to find out the suitable planting geometry and dehaulming date for enhancing the seed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) yield and profitability under north-western plains of India. According to the study planting geometry and dehaulming date strongly influenced the seed size tuber yield and quality. Among the different planting geometries, paired row bed planting significantly increased the yield and number of seed size tubers when dehaulming was done after 80–90 days. Maximum gross income, net returns and benefit:cost ratio was also observed under paired row bed planting over the conventional planting geometry. Paired row bed planting increased the tuber yield by 21.7% and benefit:cost ratio by 18.6% over the control. Hence, it is concluded from the experiment that paired row bed planting is found suitable for maximizing the seed size tuber numbers, yield as well as getting the maximum economic returns.

Potato cyst nematode (Globodera spp.) is one of the serious pests of potato worldwide including India. Infested seed tubers and soil are the primary means of spread of cysts to non-infested areas, whereas air, water, human, animals, field equipments, composts, gunny bags are other means of spread. Therefore, a study was carried out with different concentrations of NaOCl under in vitro and in vivo condition to see its decontamination effect on potato cyst nematode (PCN). The results revealed that potato tubers harvested from the PCN infested fields can be completely decontaminated by giving dip treatment in NaOCl (2%) solution for 30 min. and the treated tubers sprouts normally after two months of storage.

Two plant growth promoting bio-agents, viz. Bacillus cereus (B4) and Bacillus subtilis (B5) were evaluated for production of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), mini-tubers from micro-plants two potato cultivars, viz. Kufri Giriraj and Kufri Kanchan (red skin tubers) under polyhouse conditions during the autumn (off) seasons of 2008 and 2009. Treatment of micro-plants with both the bio-agents (B4 and B5) proved significantly effective in improving the per cent ground cover, height of plants as well as haulms weight/plant in both the potato cultivars over control. However, no significant effect of these bio-agents was observed on establishment of micro-plants as well as on the number of shoots and compound leaves per plant. B4 bio-agent was found significantly superior in improving the ground cover and haulms weight/plant over B5. Number and yield of mini-tubers/m2 varied significantly between the cultivars and were significantly better with both the bio-agents over control.

Production potentiality of undersize (15g) seed tubers of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) variety Kufri Giriraj was evaluated at three plant densities, viz. 83 333; 111 111 and 166 666 plants /ha and four doses of nitrogen in high hills of north –western India. Both, plant density as well as nitrogen doses had a significant effect on the number as well as yields of total and seed size tubers. A plant density of 166 666 plants/ha with 160 kg nitrogen/ha resulted in maximum number of total and seed size tubers as well as yields. Thus, in the hills, under size (15 g) seed tubers of potato should be planted at a plant density of 166 666 plants/ ha by following 60 cm × 10 cm spacing along with a nitrogen dose of 160 kg/ha for getting the maximum number as well as yields of total and seed size (20-80g) tubers.