Abstract
During the experimental years of 2017 and 2018 eight potato cultivars were evaluated for their growth traits and productivity in tuber yield. The potato cultivars used in these experimental seasons were; Bubu (as a standard check), Chiro, Gebisa, Belete, Gudene, Badasa Jarso and Dedafa. The first six consecutive potatoes are improved cultivars which were released by Ethiopian research institute and University while the last two potatoes were collected from farmers and cultivated as local (native) cultivars. The objective of this study was to compare the growth and productivity potato cultivars grown at eastern regions of Ethiopia. The results revealed that performance of improved potato cultivars were high in both evaluated yield related traits and average tuber yield. The performances of evaluated potatoes were not similar among cultivars and within cultivar throughout experimental seasons. The experimental design was a randomized block design in three replications. The field management; seed tuber selection, land preparation, planting, fertilizer application method and amount, ridging, weeding, cultivation, harvesting, data collection method and collected data analysis has been carried out for all potato cultivars in similar manner. Potato tubers from four middle rows were analyzed for parameters such as tuber yield, tuber number, marketable and total tuber yield. The highest tuber yield was revealed with cultivar Bubu (39.4 t ha-1) while the lowest with Jarso (20.89 t ha-1). The highest tuber number was showed with cultivar Badasa (12.73 plant-1) and the lowest with Belete (7 plant-1). Hence, there were no correlation between average tuber yield and number.
Highlights
With the increase in Ethiopia’s population and decrease in arable land, food security issues have become more prominent
The highest tuber yield was revealed with cultivar Bubu (39.395 t ha-1) while the lowest with variety Jarso (20.89 t ha-1)
According to the analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistically significant differences of different level of significance were obtained among potato cultivars under evaluation and standard check (Bubu), with respect to the tuber yields, tuber number, etc
Summary
With the increase in Ethiopia’s population and decrease in arable land, food security issues have become more prominent. Potato is an important food and cash crop in Eastern and Central Africa, playing a major role in national food security and nutrition, poverty alleviation and income generation, and; provides employment in the production, processing and marketing sub-sectors (Lung’aho et al, 2007). In Ethiopia, potato crop is being cultivated regularly each year on the 69,610.81 area in hectares 9,689,696.44, production in quintals 139.20, yield (qt/ha) during 2017/18 Ethiopia is endowed with suitable climatic and edaphic conditions for high quality potato production. The major ones are lack of well adapted and high yielding cultivars, availability and high cost of seed tubers, inappropriate agronomic practices, and lack of marketing and suitable post-harvest management facilities as well as insect pests and disease (Gildemacher et al, 2009a)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
