Evaluation of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Varieties for Yield Attributes

Abstract

Objectives: Five potato varieties (Gudenie, Degemegn, Belete, and two local varieties named Father & Susalluh)  during the autumn  and seven potato varieties (Jalene & Tolcha in addition to varieties used in autumn during the winter season during the winter season were evaluated for their tuber yield attributes under rain fed condition of the 2015/16 crop calendar with the objective of evaluating the yield potential of improved & local varieties of Irish potato in Chencha district Gamo-Gofa zone Ethiopia. Methodology: The experimental field was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with four blocks and three biological repeats. Results: statistical results revealed significant difference among the treatments (Varieties) in the entire yield traits during the winter season whereas; tuber number per plant & unmarketable yield were statistically significant among the varieties during the autumn cropping season. The highest number of tubers per plant was recorded in Local-1 variety whereas the lowest number of tubers per plant was recorded in Belete variety during the autumn cropping season. During the winter cropping season, the maximum number of tubers per plant was recorded in Local-1 variety. In the winter season varieties showed highly significant differences (p < 0.01) in marketable yield. Unlike autumn season, in the winter cropping season, the highest marketable yield (33.17 t ha^-1) was recorded in Local-2(Susallu) variety while the lowest marketable yield (12.10 t ha^-1) was record in Local-1 variety. The results in relation to very small tubers (mean unmarketable yield <20 g tuber^-1) noted to be highly significant (p < 0.01) among the varieties during both cropping seasons. The highest unmarketable yield was recorded in Local 1. The statistical analysis for total yields showed significant differences (p < 0.05) among varieties only during winter growing season. Total yield of tubers ranged from (21.98 t ha^-1 in Local-1 to 13.56 t ha^-1 in Degemegn) in autumn season & (36.64 t ha^-1 in Local-1 to 20.63 t ha^-1 in Tolcha) during the winter cropping season.Conclusion: Finally, we conclude that the study evidently demonstrated the effect of varietal difference on the yield attributes of potato. The growth performance of the Irish potato varieties brought from Holeta Research Center was promising though later on the yield attribute was found to be superior in the Susalllu (Local-2) variety in our research.

Kewords: Potato, Yield attributes, Chencha-Gircha, Jalenie, Gudenie, Degemegn, Tolcha