A review on water and nitrogen use efficiency of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in relation to its yield and yield components

Abstract

Best potato growing condition available in Ethiopia compared to African countries. Poor resource and crop management was found one of the major production and productivity limiting factors. This review was conducted to show the gap available in optimum nitrogen rate utilization, limitation of irrigation water utilization, nitrogen and water use efficiency consideration in agronomic work of the country. In Ethiopia the production of potato was showing increasing due to land used for production increased but the productivity showed slight increase. Optimizing resource use efficiency by better management of water and nutrients through temporal and spatial irrigation and fertilization strategies in crop production is now getting concern in the world to enhance the profit of farm and minimize the cost of production. It is useful to consider some efficiency indices, in order to optimize the scheduling of water and nitrogen application. Determining nitrogen rates and irrigation water amount that improve the use of both water and nitrogen, and increasing knowledge of efficient use of resource could minimize the possible N losses thereby minimizing cost and increasing production profit. In the process of optimization, crop type to be grown and variety have also a remarkable contribution. On the last the nitrogen rate, irrigation regime and use efficiency of nitrogen and water were interrelated to each other and should be considered to gather with the yield and yield component of the potato for sustainable production with sufficient benefit.