Impact assessment of climate change on potato productivity in Assam using SUBSTOR-Potato model

Potato tuber yield were simulated at Jorhat, Assam under various Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) scenarios for 2020, 2050 and 2080 using DSSAT SUBSTOR-Potato model. The model was calibrated and validated for three potato cultivars, viz., Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Pokhraj and Kufri Himalini with the experimental data collected during 2014-15 and 2015-16. Results revealed that if planting is delayed beyond November, all these cultivars are likely to record drastic reduction in tuber yield. Cultivar Kufri Himalini may incur tuber yield loss of 64 per cent in 2020 to 75 per cent in 2080, followed by Kufri Jyoti (57.6% in 2020 to 71.5% in 2080) and Kufri Pokhraj (45.2% in 2020 to 56.2% in 2080). Among the cultivars, Kufri Pokhraj may remain a viable cultivar up to 2050, but Kufri Himalini may lose its sustainability by 2020 itself. Hence, adjustment of planting time and development of improved adaptive potato cultivars only will ascertain future potato production in this region.