Effects of Blended NPS Fertilizer Rates on Yield and Yield Components of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Varieties at Dessie Zuria District, Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopia, the average yield of potato is far below the potential due to different problems like in appropriate agronomic practices. Hence, this research was done to evaluate the effects of NPS fertilizer rates on yield and yield components of potato. The study was conducted at Dessie Zuria district, Ethiopia during dry season of 2015. A factorial combination of six level of NPS fertilizer (0:0:0, 111:89.7:0, 111:89.7:16.52, 55:89.7:16.52, 111:44.85:8.26 and 55:44.85, 8.26) kg ha-1 and two potato varieties were plotted in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The highest plant height of potato (87.60 cm) was recorded on 111: 89.7:16.52 kg ha-1 of NPS fertilizer rate. Belete variety supplied with 111: 89.7:16.52 kg ha-1 of NPS fertilizer rate recorded the maximum days (124.3) to maturity of potato. Similarly, Belete variety recorded the higher biomass than local variety. The 111:89.7:16.52 kg ha-1 and 55.5:89.7:16.52 kg ha-1 of NPS fertilizer rates showed the highest aboveground biomass (103.24 g hill-1) and underground biomass of potato (290.9 g hill-1) respectively. The highest average tuber number per hill (15.67), tuber weight per hill (1.82 kg), marketable (53.61 t ha-1), unmarketable (0.542 t ha-1) and total (54.15t ha-1) tuber yield were recorded on potato which was applied with 55.5: 89.7:16.52 kg ha-1 of NPS fertilizer rate. In all characteristics of growth and yield of potato, Belete variety was better than local variety. Similarly, potato fertilized with 55.5: 89.7:16.52 kg ha-1of NPS fertilizer rate was showed highest yield than other rates.  Keywords: Potato; fertilizer rates; variety; marketable yield; tuber yieldDOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-13-01Publication date:July 31st 2020