Effects of Seed Tuber Size and Plant Population on Seed Tuber Yield of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) in Central Ethiopia

Zekarias Dagne

doi:10.7176/jnsr/9-3-08

Abstract

Optimizing plant density and seed tuber sizes are the most important agronomic management practices in seed production of potato due to their effects on seed cost and seed tuber yields. A field experiment was conducted under irrigation during in 2014 at Holetta, Ethiopia with the objective of elucidating the effect of varied plant spacing and seed tuber sizes on seed tuber yield production. The results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that seed tuber size and plant spacing significantly (P< 0.05) influenced on average tuber weight, number of tubers and tuber yield in each seed size categories, seed tuber costs. Highest tuber yield were obtained at closer plant spacing and from medium and large seed tuber sizes whereas the lowest tuber yield were obtained at wider plant spacing and from small seed tuber sizes. The highest numbers of tubers were obtained from large seed tuber sizes and plants grown at closer plant spacing of 50 x 20, 50 x 30 and 60 x 20cm produced highest tuber number. Plant spacing 60 x 20 cm and medium-sized tubers (35-45mm) led to the production of the highest seed tuber yield and appropriate for seed tuber yield production by considering better income, seed saving and intercultural operations. Keywords: Seed tuber size, Plant population, Seed tuber yield, Seed cost DOI : 10.7176/JNSR/9-3-08

Highlights

Potato is graded as a high potential food security and cash crop because of its ability to provide a high yield of high quality product per unit input with a shorter crop cycle compared to major cereal crops (Berga et al, 1992, Adane et al, 2010)
Seed tuber size is an important factor to decide the seed per unit area because it affects total yield and graded or marketable tuber yields, small tuber size increasing with increased size of the mother tuber
The other dimension of interest for determining plant population and use of optimum spacing is the high seed rate required in potato production associated cost of seed which may account for up 50% of total production cost (Gebremedhin et al, 2008)

Summary

Introduction

Potato is graded as a high potential food security and cash crop because of its ability to provide a high yield of high quality product per unit input with a shorter crop cycle (mostly < 120 days) compared to major cereal crops (Berga et al, 1992, Adane et al, 2010). Ethiopia has possibly the greatest potential for potato production and 70 percent its arable land mainly in highland areas above 1500m believed suitable for potato production (Endale and Gebremedhin, 2001 and Gebremedhin et al, 2008). Seed potato is one of the most important ingredients for successful potato production (Lacha et al, 2012). Seed tuber size is an important factor to decide the seed per unit area because it affects total yield and graded or marketable tuber yields, small tuber size increasing with increased size of the mother tuber (seed). The other dimension of interest for determining plant population and use of optimum spacing is the high seed rate required in potato production associated cost of seed which may account for up 50% of total production cost (Gebremedhin et al, 2008)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion