The effect of planting and harvesting dates on yield and vegetative growth of two potato cultivars in Ardabil region

Potato is the most important crops after the cereal species.This project was conducted for determining the effects of planting and harvesting dates to obtain maximum potential yield of two potato cultivars (Caesar and Agria) in Ardebil region, Iran. A split spilt plot on the basis of randomized complete block designwith 3 replication in Ardabil Agriculture Research Station for 2 years (2003-2004) was implemented. In this experiment potato cultivarars, different planting dates and different harvesting dates were used as main plots, sub plots and sub sub plots respectively. The result showed that cultivars, planting and harvesting dates influenced tuber yields (ton/ha), no of tuber per plant, no of main stems and mean yield of single plant (gr) significantly. According to this study, Agria cultivar is better than Caesar in Ardabil area in aspect of tuber yield production and early of May can be recommended planting time for this cultivar. In addition, our results showed the best time for harvest in Ardabil is early of September in comparison with October.