Effects of Variety and Tuber Size on Yield and Yield Component of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Wolaita Zone Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted to evaluate growth, yield and yield components of different Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varaties under three tuber sizes from March 2013 to July 2013 at Wolaita zone Sodo zuria wereda Dalbo kebele southern Ethiopia. The study consisted of four commercially released varieties of Potato named as Gudene, Jalene, Guassa, Digemegn and one local variety as a check and three tuber sizes (large, medium, and small). Factorial experiment was conducted on farmers’ field using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Three model and volunteer farmers were involved. Each farmer’s field was considered as replication. Data were collected for growth, tuber yield and yield components. Analysis of variances (ANOVA) revealed that varieties differed significantly (P≤0.05) in plant height, average tuber number per hill, mean tuber diameter, number of marketable potato tuber at net harvestable row, number of unmarketable potato tuber at net harvestable row, number of total potato tuber per net harvestable row at net harvestable row, there was no significant (P≤0.05) effect for tuber size as well as interaction between variety and tuber size for all observed parameters.In this study, the highest tuber yield of 32.57 t ha^-1 were obtained from Guasaa followed by Guden (30.09) t ha^-1 though the difference was statistically not significant but according to the farmers field visit selection criteria, physical stand, disease and pest tolerance, and production of attractive and marketable tubers Gudene variety and use of meduim sized tuber. Therefore, using Gudene variety and use of medium size tube found to be advisable but incase shortage of medium sized planting material occurs large or small sized tubers can be used. However, further testing is required in different locations and on different soils.

Keywords: Potato, Variety, Tuber size, Growth, Yield.