Determining the Rate of Blended Fertilizers and Urea for Potato Production Under Rain Fed Condition in Kersa Malima, South West Showa, Ethiopia

Kassaye Negash

doi:10.7176/jees/11-8-01

Abstract

This experiment was conducted on Belete and Gudenie potato verities reaction to fertilizer rates Control, 150 kg/ha NPSB+80 kg/ha urea, 250 kg/ha NPSB+80 kg/ha urea, 350 kg/ha NPSB+80 kg/ha urea, 150 kg/ha NPSB+140 urea, 250 kg/ha NPSB+140 kg/ha urea, 350 kg/ha NPSB+140 kg/ha urea, 150 kg/ha NPSB +200 kg/ha urea, 250 kg/ha NPSB +200 kg/ha urea and 350 kg/ha N+200 kg/ha urea in Kersa Malima district in 2018-2019 main cropping seasons (June-August) using completely randomized block design arrangement in three replications. The analysis was done using SAS 9.2. This study revealed that there was highly significant difference among the yield and yield components due to main effect fertilizer rates. The interaction did not affect any parameter considered. The highest total and marketable yield (38.75 t/ha and 36.51 t/ha) respectively were harvested from 350 kg/ha NPSB+140 kg/ha urea followed by total and marketable yield of 250 kg/ha NPSB+200kg/ ha urea (37.57 and 35.66 t/ha), respectively. The partial budget analysis indicated that the highest benefit (108,426.5ETB) was fetched from 350kg/ha NPSB+140kg/ha urea followed by 250kg/ha NPSB+200kg/ha urea (106,429ETB). But, the marginal rate of return indicated that highest investment return increment of 24,391.25% was recorded from 250kg/ha NPSB+200kg/ha followed by 150 kg/ha NPSB+80kg/ha urea (3.004.231%). From this it can be concluded that the NPSB+urea rates highly significantly affected the yield and yield component of potato. It is better to apply 250 kg/ha urea+200 kg/ha urea to potato for high yield and high economic return in Kersa Malima district. It is better to repeat the experiment with more replication and higher rates including planting time as the farmer were planting starting from March. Keywords : NPSB, urea, yield and yield components, Belete and Gudenie potato varieties DOI: 10.7176/JEES/11-8-01 Publication date: August 31 st 2021

Highlights

Irish potato (Solanum tubserosum L.) is a peak vegetable crop in Ethiopia (Amin, 2018)
The highest benefit (108,426.5TB) was gained from 350 kg/ha NPSB +140 kg/ha urea followed by 250kg/ha NPSB + 200 kg/ha urea (106,429ETB) while the lowest benefit was obtained from control (Table 4)
The highest marginal rate of return (24,391.25%) obtained from 250 kg/ha NPSB+200 kg/ha urea (Table 4). This means, the investment return increment rate was highest at application rate of 250 kg/ha NPSB+200 kg/ha urea

Summary

Introduction

Irish potato (Solanum tubserosum L.) is a peak vegetable crop in Ethiopia (Amin, 2018). It is a high potential food security crop for closely populated highland areas (Hirpa et al, 2010). Potato is one of the most suiting crops to high lands areas of Ethiopian, which can produce higher yield per unit time and land. In spite of most favorable growing condition in Ethiopia, its average productivity is low when compared with world and other African countries. This is due to cultivation with low or no fertilizer in Ethiopian farmers (Gezu, 2015). Inappropriate soil fertility management is cause of food shortage and malnutrition of tremendous peoples in the country (Gete et al, 2010)

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Conclusion