Effects of different levels of inorganic fertilizers applications on the production of Enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw) Cheesman)

Abstract

Enset is one of the major food crops supporting many people in Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Regional State. The crop requires intensive management and high amount of nutrients; however, only limited research has been conducted on fertilizer requirement of the crop. An experiment was conducted to determine rate and frequency of N and P fertilizers application for enset production at Areka, Wolaita, in Southern Ethiopia. Three levels of N (46, 92 and 138 kg/ha), three levels of P (20, 40 and 60 kg/ha), two levels of frequency of application (one time and two times), and absolute control treatment were arranged in factorial experiment with randomized complete block design replicated three times. Phosphorus was applied as DAP and N was applied as Urea and DAP. Data on plant height, pseudo stem height, pseudo stem circumference, leaf sheath number, corm weight, central shoot, bula weight, unsqueezed and squeezed kocho were collected and analyzed. The result indicated that application of N and P increased enset production at Areka. Application of 138 kg N and 20 kg P/ha per year two times in the life of the crop gave the highest enset production in all the above parameters. Beside increasing enset production, application of 138 kg N and 20 kg P/ha per year for two consecutive years enabled the enset to mature three years earlier as compared to the farmers experience in the area, which takes five years to mature. In conclusion, application of N and P more than one time in the life of enset is important to increase its production and reduce its maturity period. Therefore, application of 138 kg N and 20 kg P/ha per year for two consecutive years is recommended for better production of enset at Areka.

Keywords: Enset, Banana, Maturity, Bulla, Fertilizer