Economic and agronomic optimum rates of NPS fertilizer for irrigated garlic (Allium sativum L) production in the highlands of Ethiopia

Shege Getu Yayeh,Melkamu Alemayehu,Yigzaw Dessalegn,Amare Haileslassie,Manuel Tejada Moral

doi:10.1080/23311932.2017.1333666

Shege Getu Yayeh, Melkamu Alemayehu + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2017.1333666

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Abstract

AbstractField experiment has been conducted in Yilmana Densa District during the 2014/2015 irrigation season with the objective of identifying the economical and agronomically optimum rate of the newly introduced NPS fertilizer for garlic production under irrigated smallholder farming system in the Highlands of Northwestern Ethiopia. Twelve NPS fertilizer rates, laid down on Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications were tested on local garlic variety. Accordingly, most of the growth and yield parameters were significantly affected by NPS fertilizer rates where non-fertilized plants were inferior in all parameters. Significantly highest plant height (69.23 cm) and above ground biomass (25.33 g) were recorded on garlic plants supplied with N:P2O5:S at the rate of 105:122.6:22.6 kg ha−1. Similarly, the biggest bulb diameter (4.27 cm) and the highest leaf number (13.4) as well as marketable (17.42 t ha−1) and total bulb yields (17.8 t ha−1) were recorded on plants which were supplied with 140:...

Highlights

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) belongs to the family Alliaceae and is the second most widely used Allium next to onion (Rubatzky & Yamaguchi, 1997)
The current study was initiated with the objectives to assess the economic and agronomic optimum rate of the newly introduced compound NPS fertilizer on garlic (A. sativum L) under irrigated garlic production system in the Highlands of Ethiopia
The study illustrated that application of mineral fertilizer like NPS is necessary to improve the production and productivity of garlic in the study area since almost all growth and yield parameters of garlic were significantly influenced by NPS fertilizer rates

Summary

Introduction

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) belongs to the family Alliaceae and is the second most widely used Allium next to onion (Rubatzky & Yamaguchi, 1997). Garlic is among the most important bulb vegetable crops used as a seasoning or condiment of foods because of its pungent flavor. Garlic grows under a wide range of climatic conditions. It grows best at higher elevations ranging from 1800–2800 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.) where cool weather conditions prevail. Mean temperatures in the range of 12–24°C are generally the best growing condition for garlic production (Edwards, Demissew, & Heberg, 1997; Libner, 1989). As garlic is shallow rooted vegetable and has un-branched root system and low nutrient extraction capacity, it requires relatively high amount of nutrients for best growth and development (Brewster & Butler, 1997). Soil pH ranging from 6.8–7.2 is generally for garlic production. According to Janet (2008), soil pH below 5.0 can lead to the death of garlic plants

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