Evaluation of Quality and Dormancy Period of Improved and Local Potato (solanum tuberosum l.) Cultivars Grown in Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at Haramaya and Hirna with the objective of assessing the quality and dormance period of local (farmers’) and improved potato cultivars during the main cropping season of 2011. The treatments consisted of five released cultivars (Badhasa, Chala, Chiro, Gabbisa, Zemen) and four local (farmers’) potato cultivars (Batte, Daddafa, Jarso, Mashenadima). The experiment was laid out as a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Chala at Haramaya produced the highest specific gravity (1.105) and dry matter content (27.10%) and Daddafa produced lowest (1.061) and (21.05%), respectively at Hirna. Tubers of the local cultivars had generally shorter dormancy whereas tubers of the released cultivars had longer dormancy.

Keywords: potato (solanum tuberosum l.), yield Performance, Improved, local, Ethiopia