An experiment was conducted at the farmers’ field during the year 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 to manage the soil acidity by application of lime for increasing the productivity of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Ri-bhoi district of Meghalaya. The experiment consists of three treatments (T1: lime @ 400 kg/ha in furrows + 50% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF: N: P2O5: K2O::120: 120: 60 kg/ha) + 1 ton/ha vermicompost, T2: 100% recommended dose of fertilizers and T3: Farmers practice (imbalance fertilizer with 30:20:20 NPK kg/ha). The on farm trials were conducted in randomized block design and replicated at five locations in three villages with a total area of 2 ha of land. The results of the trials revealed that application of lime @ 400 kg/ha in furrows + 50% recommended dose of fertilizers + 1 ton/ha vermicompost gave significantly higher yield followed by 100% recommended dose of fertilizers + 1 ton/ha vermicompost and farmers practice (imbalance fertilizer with 30:20:20 NPK kg/ha). The yield increased significantly in both the year (210 q/ha in 2017-18 and 240 q/ha in 2018-19) compared to the farmers practice (154 q/ha in 2017-18 and 156 q/ha in 2018-19) with BC ratio of 2.32 and 2.64, respectively. Moreover, improved and significantly higher soil nutrient status was recorded with improvement in soil pH in both the years. So, the integrated use of lime in furrows along with NPK fertilizer can be effectively used for increasing the productivity of potato and maintaining the soil acidity in Meghalaya.

Keyword: On farm trial; Lime; Potato; Yield; Productivity; Soil;