Growth and yield responses of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties to NPS blended fertilizer at Nedjo, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the major crops grown in several agroecological zones in Ethiopia but understudied. A field study was carried out to assess compound fertilizer, nitrogen-phosphorus-sulfur (NPS), effect on plant growth, yield and economic returns of three local potato varieties; namely, Menagesha, Gudane and Belete. Potato grown with the 150kg NPS/ha recorded the highest number of main stems and var. Belete had the most followed by var. Gudane and then var. Menagesha. An increase in NPS rate of application from 0 to 150 kg N/ha prolonged the time expected to attain 50% flowering from ca. 57 to ca. 69days. Variety Menagesha seemed to be early maturing compared to the other varieties. Consistently, the highest leaf tissue N, P and S concentrations were recorded by var. Belete, compared to vars Gudane and Menagesha. All the yield components increased significantly (P<0.05) when the rate of NPS application was increased stepwise to 150kg NPS/ha. Varieties Belete and Gudane were superior in having the highest marketable number of tubers compared to var. Menagesha. The partial budget analysis also showed the highest net benefit of 292,812 and 292,630 Birr/ha with marginal rate of return of 11798% and 15263% at 150kg NPS/ha for vars Belete and Gudane, respectively. This study must be repeated prior to recommendation while future research must analyze tuber biochemical quality in response to NPS blended fertilizer application.