Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer (Urea) Rate Application on Growth Performance of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) on Vertisols of Central Highland of North Shewa, Ethiopia

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine response of potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) to different rates of nitrogen fertilizer (urea) applied as 0 kg/ha, 81 kg/ha 165 kg/ha and 246 kg/ha  on vertisols of Debre Berhan university demonstration site which was located at central highlands(North Shewa) of Ethiopia. Treatments were arranged in RCBD design. Data was collected after 50% of plants were produced flower in which it was sampled randomly from center of plot.  Application of Nitrogen Fertilizer urea 246kg/ha and 165kg/ha delayed days to flowering, increases stem length, above ground biomass, underground biomass, branch number, and stem number as compared to the control(N=0kg/ha). It was observed that application of 165 kg urea/ha is required for optimum growth and performance of potato Gorebeilla variety on Vertisols of Debre Berhan in central high lands of Ethiopia.

Keywords: - Potato, gorebeilla variety, Nitrogen fertilizer, aboveground performance, underground performance, different Rate application

DOI: 10.7176/ALST/80-01

Publication date: April 30^th 2020