REPORT

Organic Potato Cultivation under IRF

Package of Practice

Evaluation of Potato Cultivation under

Organic Package of Practice with Special
Emphasis on Organic Disease Management
of Potato Blight (Phytophthora infestans
and Alternaria solani.)

Utilizing Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) Technology - A

comprehensive organic package of practice developed by
Inhana Biosciences

Evaluated by
Prof. Kajal Sengupta
Head, Department of Agronomy
Bidhan Chandra Krishi
Viswavidyalaya
Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal

April, 2015

Date : 10-4-2015

Certificate
This is to certify that the Project entitled Evaluation of Potato
Cultivation under Organic Package of Practice with Special
Emphasis on Organic Disease Management of Potato Blight
(Phytophthora infestans and Alternaria solani.) was carried out
under IORF was evaluated by me.
The

observation/data

were

taken

by

the

Technical

persons/scientists of IORF.
The results of the investigation reported in the Project Report are
true and authentic as per my best of knowledge.

Adoption of IRF Package of Practice for Potato

Cultivation
Introduction
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) popularly known as The king
of vegetables, has emerged as fourth most important food
crop in India after rice, wheat and maize. India produces
nearly 12.2% of the total global potato production, after China
(23.3%). In India, potato crop, on an average, is grown on
20.32 million ha with an average potato production of 46.61
million MT in the year 2013-2014. West Bengal ranks second
in potato production after Uttar Pradesh as it produces about
28 percent of the total potatoes cultivated in India. Potato
disease specialy early and late blight caused by fungi like
organism Alternaria solani and Phytophthora infestans is a
major problem in India especially in West Bengal. Even in the
last potato growing season the disease has spread to 25 per
cent of the growing area and this could bring down the yield
10-15 per cent in West Bengal.
Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) Technology developed by an
Indian Scientist, Dr. P. Das Biswas has already been widely
adopted in reputed organic tea estates in India and shown its
effectivity in terms of crop production and soil quality
development. Even conventional tea estates also have been
adopting these technologies towards the reduction of
chemical / pesticide load and management of recurrent
disease problems. In the Agriculture Sector, the technology
has been successfully tried out in different crops like paddy,
baby corn, greengram, cabbage, okra, tomato, blackgram etc
for organic crop production. In the present study IRF Package
of Practice was used to evaluate the potential of the
technology towards (i) Organic potato production in
3

comparison to conventional practice and (ii) Effectivity IRF

Disease Management Practice towards the management of
potato blight.

Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) Technology in Brief

Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) Technology
has been developed by an eminent Indian
Scientist, Dr. P. Das Biswas, associated with
organic research for the last 15 years and
pioneer
of
comprehensive
organic
technology for sustainable organic crop
production. The technology provides a
nature receptive pathway
for crop production taking into account the interrelated and
integrated relationships of all the components of the
ecosystem,
which
ultimately
leads
to
ecological
improvement thereby ensuring economic sustainability. IRF
is probably the only package of practice which provides
complete solutions for organic farming from seed showing
to harvesting in an effective and economic manner.
It is perhaps the only method, which provides the
assurance of No Reduction in Yield and No Hike in
Cultivation Cost even from the first year of organic
conversion.
Rational
Farming
objectives through:
1.
2.

Technology

achieves

these

Energization of Soil System

Energization of Plant System

Rational Farming Technology believes that the soil and plant

system possess inherent capacities for performing their
desired functions. But these qualities have been presently
deactivated due to decades of injudicious chemical farming
practices. It is now proved that nutritional deficiency is not
due to less quantitative application but more due to different
losses, reduced mineralization, improper ionic transport
5

mechanism and higher fixation of the nutrients in soil. Hence,

effective nutritional management shall not depend on
quantitative nutrient application through organic/ biological
sources but most importantly on the functional enhancement
of the soil, which can be attended only with an ideal
inoculation input.
Energization of Soil System is achieved primarily through
the application Novcom compost [an ideal exogenous soil
inoculation produced under the Novcom Composting Method
of Inhana Biosciences (Kolkata)]. Novcom compost is
produced from different types of biodegradable raw materials
(mainly farm wastes) within the quickest time period of 21
days (approx.). The compost possesses huge population (in
the order of 1016) and a wide diversity of self generated
microbes, which when incorporated in soil brings about the
rapid and progressive restoration of soil health and soilnutrient dynamics. Since majority of soil functions are
governed by the vast array of microflora in the desired order
and combination, only their incorporation (through an ideal
medium) and huge proliferation can bring positive changes in
the soil ecosystem. Since the huge population of microbes is
self generated, their sustained action in the soil is also
observed; generating microbial population to the order of
1010. Besides Inhana Biosciences (Kolkata) also recommends
planting of cover crops and mulching practices followed by insitu composting of the mulches.
Energization of Plant System basically aims at restoring
the two lost qualities of the plant kingdom, i.e,
(i) Sense of Self- Nourishment, and
(ii) Sense of Self- Protection.

Like soil, crop efficiency is also not redundant due to shortage

of nutrients but for their non- efficient utilization. At the same
time the formation, secretion and action of different biochemicals are not at their best. As a result overall metabolism
gets depressed. All these malfunctions are due to the deactivated and stressed out plant systems. Hence application
of enzymes, hormones and organic acids only adds on to the
complexities rather than solving them.

Rational Farming
Technology (developed by Inhana
Biosciences) is based on the Five Essential Pillars for
sustainable organic farming in term of Safety, Effectivity,
Completeness, Convenience and Economical.

Pic 1 : Prof. Kajal Sengupta, Head, Department of

7

Agronomy, BCKV with his research team and

Project Farmers visit the project area at
Bhabanipur village, Fatepur Panchayat, Nadia on 2 nd
February, 2015.

Project Details in Brief

Study Area
1. Mathurapur village, Kowgachi-II Panchayat, North 24
Paragana, West Bengal.
2. Bhabanipur village, Fatepur Panchayat, Nadia, West
Bengal
Period of Study : November 2014 to March, 2015
Date of Planting : 10th to 20th November, 2014
Date of Harvesting : 20th February to 2nd March, 2015
Potato Variety Used :
1. Mathurapur village : Super 6 and Kurfi Jyoti.
2. Bhabanipur village : Kurfi Jyoti and Kurfi Chandramukhi
Soil Management In Conventional Plots :
1. Mathurapur village : 250 kg complex fertilizer (10 : 26 :
26) and Urea 50 kg per bigha.
2. Bhabanipur village : 250 kg complex fertilizer (10 : 26 :
26) and Urea 30 kg per bigha.
Soil Management In Organic Plots under IRF Plant
Management :
1. Mathurapur village : 1500 kg Novcom compost and 50 kg
complex fertilizer (10 : 26 : 26) .
2. Bhabanipur village : 1500 kg Novcom compost and 50 kg
complex fertilizer (10 : 26 : 26).

Package of Practice under Organic Plots under IRF

Plant Management
1. Seed Treatment : 250 ml Inhana seed solution used for
100 kg of seeds for 1 bigha plantation .
2. IRF Plant Management Package : 8 to 9 rounds of
spraying of different Inhana Solutions from 2 to 3 leaf stage
in an interval of 7 to 10 days.
3. IRF Disease Management Package : 5 to 6 rounds
spraying of different Inhana Solutions
which initiated
generally 30 to 40 days before probable time of disease
occurrence.
Visitors from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa vidyalaya
1. Prof. Kajal Sengupta, Dept. of Agronomy, BCKV.
2. Prof. Sujit Kumar Roy, Dept of Plant Pathology, BCKV
Date of Visit:
Project Farmers in Mathurapur village
1. Susanta Kumar Chari (Adopted IRF Package of Practice
for Organic Potato Cultivation).
2. Tapas Maity (Adopted conventional package of practice
for potato cultivation).
Project Farmers in Bhabnipur village
1. Ashok Biswas (Adopted IRF Package of Practice for
Organic Potato Cultivation as well as IRF Disease
management Package).
2. Arun Mondol (Adopted IRF Package of Practice for
Organic Potato Cultivation as well as Organic Disease
Management Package & Conventional Package of
Practice)

10

3. Santosh Pahar ( Adopted IRF Package of Practice for

Organic Potato Cultivation)
4. Kashem Mondol (Conventional Practice)
5. Golam Nobi (Conventional Practice)
6. Sura Mondol (Conventional Practice)
7. Fakir Mondol (Conventional Package of Practice)
Findings in Brief: Mathurapur village, North 24 Paragana,
W.B.
1.The potato crop raised through Inhana Rational Farming
(IRF) Technology developed by Inhana Organic Research
Foundation (IORF) was comparatively better than their
conventional counter part in terms of plant vigour, plant
height, plant biomass and number of leaves.
2.

Potato seed germination % under IRF Treated plots was

13 % higher than conventional potato plots as seed
germination in IRF treated plots and conventional plots
were recorded 98 % and 85 % respectively.

3.

Average height of the potato plants (60 days plant) in

IRF treated plots was 54.04 cm which was 24.3 % higher
than conventional potato plants (43.5 cm), whereas no. of
leaves in IRF treated plots (mean 150 /plants) was 17.19 %
higher than their counter parts (128 /plant).

4.

No early blight infestation was reported in both IRF

treated organic plots as well as conventional plots.
Infestation of potato late blight (Phytophthora
infestans) in all project plots irrespective of treatments
was reported. However, severity of Potato late blight in
organic plots under IRF Package of Practice was
significantly lower (Only 2 % of total plant population) than

11

chemically treated fields, where plant population under

late blight infestation was nearly 30 %.
5. In Case of chemically field there was leaf curl virus disease
(cause by PVX and PVA virus) but such type of virus
disease was not observed in the field where the crop was
cultivated under IRF Package of Practice.
6.

In some project plots (irrespective of the treatment)

potato scab disease was noticed in tubers [caused by the
pathogen Streptomyces scabies (Thaxter) Waksman and
Henrici (Actinomycetes)], however infestation rate was
very much insignificant (rate of infection was about 1 1.2%).

7. Yield of potato tubers was calculated and it 4000 kg (80

bags) and 3700 kg (74 bags) per bigha in case of Kufri
Jyoti and Kufri Chandramukhi, respectively in Organic
potato plots under IRF Package of Practice. In case of
Conventional chemical treatment plots, tuber yield was
3700 kg (74 bags) and 3500 kg (70 bags) per bigha in
Kufri Jyoti and Kufri Chandramukhi variety respectively.
8. In case of Kurfi Jyoti variety, tuber yield under organic
management was 7.5 % higher than that of under
convention chemical practice, where as in case of Kufri
Chandramukhi variety, tuber yield under organic
management was 5.4 % higher in comparison to its
counter part.
9. In the organic project plots under IRF Package of Practice,
some of the potato plants produced nearly 2.5 kg tuber
per plant, which indicated the impact of IRF Plant
management practices on plant performances.

12

10. Comparatively higher yield in organically treated plots

was contributed to comparatively higher number of
tuber/plant and higher individual tuber weight due to
favourable growth environment, enhancement of plant
physiology through a scientific practices and prevention of
spreading of diseases through activation of plants host
defense mechanism.
11. Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) in terms of Partial Factor
Productivity of Applied Nutrient (PFP NPK) in organic treated
plots were significantly higher than their chemical
counterpart. PFPNPK in organic potato plots were varied
between 68.52 to 74.07 kg potato per kg NPK applied.
Where as in case of Conventional plots, PFP NPK varied from
19.66 to 20.79 kg potato per kg NPK applied.

13

Field Observation

Pic 2 : Landscape view of Organic Potato Management under

IRF Package of practice at Bhabanipur village, Fatepur
Panchayat, Nadia, W.B.

Pic 3 : Field Observation at both at Bhabanipur and

Mathurapur village by Prof. Kajal Sengupta, Head, Dept.
of Agronomy, BCKV.

14

Potato late Blight Infestation in the Project Area

Organic and
Conventional Management Practice

Pic 4 : Comparative Study of Disease Infestation at

Bhabanipur village, Fatepur Panchayat, Nadia, W.B.

Pic 5 : Project Farmer in the Organic Potato Field at

Bhabanipur village, Fatepur Panchayat, Nadia, W.B..

15

16

Findings in Brief: Bhabanipur village, Fatepur Panchayat,

Nadia, W.B.
1. Cultivation of Potato under organic management using
Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) Technology developed by
Inhana Organic Research Foundation (IORF) was shown
comparatively better potential than potato under
conventional chemical cultivation practice in terms of plant
growth, curbing of late blight infestation as well as higher
crop productivity.
2. Potato seed germination % under IRF Treated plots was 11
% higher than conventional potato plots as seed
germination in IRF treated plots and conventional plots
were recorded 95 % and 84 % respectively.
3. Average height of the potato plants (60 days plant) in IRF
treated plots was 51.31 cm which was 18.76 % higher than
conventional potato plants (43.2 cm), where as no of leaf in
IRF treated plots (mean 139 /plants) was 15.4 % higher
than their counter parts (120 /plant).
4. No early blight infestation was reported in both IRF treated
organic plots as well as conventional plots. Infestation of
potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans) in all project
plots irrespective of treatments was reported. However
severity of Potato late blight in organic plots under IRF
Package of Practice was significantly lower (Only 3 % of
total plant population) than chemically treated fields,
where plant population under late blight infestation was
nearly 35 %.
5. In case of chemically treated fields there was leaf curl virus
disease (caused by PVX and PVA virus) but such type of
17

virus disease was not observed in the field where the crop
was cultivated under IRF Package of Practice.

6. Yield of potato tubers was calculated and it 4400 kg (88

bags) and 3700 kg (74 bags) per bigha in case of Super 6
and Kufri Jyoti, respectively in Organic potato plots under
IRF Package of Practice. In case of Conventional treatment
plots, tuber yield was 3800 kg (76 bags) and 3400 kg (68
bags) per bigha in Supar 6 and Kufri Jyoti variety
respectively.
7. In case of Super 6 variety, tuber yield under organic
management was 13.64 % higher than that of under
convention chemical practice. Where as in case of Kufri
Jyoti variety, tuber yield under organic management was
8.11 % higher in comparison to its counter part.
8. In case of Bhabanipur also, some of the potato plants under
IRF Package of Practice produced nearly 1 kg per plant,
which indicated the impact of IRF Plant management
practices on plant performances.
9. Comparatively higher yield in organically treated plots was
contributed to comparatively higher number of tuber/plant
and higher individual tuber weight due to favourable
growth environment, enhancement of plant physiology
through a scientific practices and prevention of spreading
of
diseases
through
activation
of
plants
host
defense mechanism.

18

10. Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) in terms of Partial Factor

Productivity of Applied Nutrient (PFP NPK) in organic treated
plots were significantly higher than their chemical
counterpart. PFPNPK in organic potato plots were varied
between 68.52 to 81.8 kg potato per kg NPK applied.
Where as in case of Conventional plots, PFP NPK varied from
20.12 to 22.48 kg potato per kg NPK applied.

19

Conclusion

Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) Technology developed by IORF,

Kolkata as a comprehensive organic package of practice; was
found to be a promising choice for organic, integrated as well
as non- pesticidal crop management.
Plant management package under IRF technology was found
to have a positive impact towards agronomic development
and yield performance of potato as compared to conventional
chemical farming practice. Comparative study on Potato late
Blight in Organic and Conventional Potato plots indicated that
Plant management under IRF Package of practice Perhaps
activated the host defense mechanism of the plant system,
which

in

turn

restricts

the

proliferation

of

the

fungal

infestation in quite a good extent (as observed in farmers

field). However, looking at general severity of potato blight in
surroundings, more care / emphasis should be given for
disease management of crop.

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ANNEXURE- I
Table 1 : Different Solutions used under IRF Plant
Management Package for organic potato
cultivation.
Sl.
No
1.

Solution Name
Seed treatment
solution

Dose & Dilution

200 ml for the

Growth stage

(time of

application)
Tubers were kept for 15-20

seeds/tuber of one minutes

in

the

diluted

bigha and diluted

solution, kept under shade

in 200 lt water.

for 5-10 minutes followed by

1.

planting in the field.

Organic Potato Management (Post Transplantation)
IB (Ag)- 2 + IB(Ag )- 7 (200 ml + 200 To be sprayed on plants, on

2.

ml)/ bigha
IB (Ag)- 12 + IB(Ag )- 7 (200 ml + 200

the 7th day after sprouting.

14th day after sprouting.

3.
4.
5.
6.

ml)/ bigha
(Ag) 4
200 ml/bigha
(Ag) 11
200 ml/bigha
(Ag) 1
200 ml/bigha
(Ag)- 2 + IB(Ag )-7+ (200 ml + 200

21st day after sprouting.

28th day after sprouting.
35th day after sprouting
42nd day after sprouting

IB
IB
IB
IB

IB(Ag )- 11

ml+200ml)/

7.
8.

bigha
IB (Ag)- 3
200 ml/bigha
IB (Ag)- 12 + IB(Ag )- 7 (200 ml + 200

49th day after sprouting

56th day after sprouting.

9.

ml)/ bigha
IB (Ag)- 2 + IB(Ag )- 7 (200 ml + 200

63rd day after sprouting.

10. IB (Ag) 10

ml)/ bigha
200 ml/bigha

21

70th day after sprouting.

Table 2 : Different Solutions

Management under IRF.
Sl.
No
1.

Solution Name

Dose & Dilution

used

for

Disease

Growth stage
(time of application)
Tubers were kept for 15-20

Seed treatment

200 ml for the

solution

seeds/tuber of one minutes in the diluted

bigha and diluted

solution, kept under shade

in 200 lt water.

for 5-10 minutes followed

by planting in the field.

Potato Disease Management (Post Transplantation)

1.

IB (Ag)- 2 + IB(Ag )- 7

2.

ml)/ bigha
the 7th day after sprouting.
IB (Ag)- 12 + IB(Ag )- 7 (200 ml + 200 17th day after sprouting.

3.
4.

ml)/ bigha
IB (Ag) 11
200 ml/bigha
IB (Ag)- 2 + IB(Ag )- 7+(200 ml + 200

5.
6.

(200 ml + 200 To be sprayed on plants, on

27th day after sprouting.

37th day after sprouting

IB(Ag )- 12

ml+200ml)/

IB (Ag)- 12
IB (Ag)- 2 + IB(Ag )- 7

bigha
200 ml/bigha
47th day after sprouting.
(200 ml + 200 57th day after sprouting.
ml)/ bigha

22

Pic. 6: Healthy Organic Potato Plants at Mathurapur Village, North 24 Parganas, under IRF
Package of Practice.

Pic 7 : Proud cultivator of organic potato, Mr. Susanta Kumar Chari (Panchayet Prodhan)
in front of his field at Mathurapur Village, Kowgachi 2 Gram Panchayet one of
prime advocator of organic cultivation.

23

Pic. 8: Prof. K. Sengupta, Head - Dept. of Agronomy (BCKV) inspects the field at
Mathurapur Village where mixed farming of potato and pumpkin was done under
organic (IRF) package.

Pic. 9 : Prof. K. Sengupta, Head - Dept. of Agronomy (BCKV) and Dr. S.K. Roy, Dept. of
Plant Pathology (BCKV) inspecting size and quality of organic potato produced at Mathurapur
Village, N-24 Parganas under IRF Package of Practice.

24