Integrated application of compound NPS fertilizer and farmyard manure for economical production of irrigated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in highlands of Ethiopia

Melkamu Alemayehu,Masho Aklile,Tadele Yeshiwas,Minwyelet Jemberie,Manuel Tejada Moral

doi:10.1080/23311932.2020.1724385

Abstract

Application of organic and inorganic fertilizers is essential for sustainable production of crops including potato. This study was therefore initiated to identify the optimum rate of farmyard manure (FYM) and blended compound NPS fertilizer for profitable production of potato in Koga Irrigation Scheme, Northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Four rates of FYM (0, 4.5, 9, and 13.5 t ha−1) and NPS fertilizer (0, 81.7, 163.4, and 245.1 kg ha−1) were laid down in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The results revealed that FYM and blended NPS fertilizer as well as their combination influenced most of the tested growth and yield parameters of potato including plant height, main stem number, and tuber weight. Application of 245.1 kg ha−1 NPS combined with 13.5 t ha−1 FYM recorded the highest marketable and total tuber yields of 43.52 and 47.04 t ha−1, respectively. Although, the highest marginal rate of return was obtained from plants supplied with the combination of 4.5 t ha−1 FYM and 163.4 kg ha−1 NPS fertilizer, combined application of 245.1 kg ha−1 NPS and 13.5 t ha−1 FYM is recommended for economical production of potato in the study area as it recorded the highest net benefit with acceptable marginal rate of return.

Highlights

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important food security crops in Ethiopia
The longest potato plants were observed with combination of 245.1 kg ha−1 NPS and 13.5 t ha−1 farmyard manure (FYM) that were statistically similar with plant height recorded by the combination of 245.1 kg ha−1 NPS and 9.0 t ha−1 FYM
Combination of 245.1 kg ha−1 NPS with 13.5 t ha−1 FYM increased plant height by 70% while that of 245.1 kg ha−1 NPS with 9.0 t ha−1 FYM increased by 65.4% compared to the control plants without NPS fertilizer and FYM (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important food security crops in Ethiopia. Potato production is in increasing trend (Cochrane & Bekele, 2018) where mid and high altitudes in the country are suitable for its production. The annual production of potato in Ethiopia is estimated to be 968,969.6 tons. Productivity of potato in Ethiopia is 13.9 t ha−1 (Central Statistic Agency [CSA], 2018), which is relatively low compared to other African countries like Algeria, Egypt, and Malawi with the productivity of 30.9, 26.4, and 18.4 t ha−1, respectively (FAOSTAT, 2017). Nutrient demand of potato on the other hand is very high (Trehan, Upadhayay, Kumar, Jatav, & Lal, 2008) due to its poor, coarser, and shallow root system as well as removal of nutrients within the dry matter of potato produced in relatively shorter life cycle (Dechassa, Schenk, Claassen, & Steingrobe, 2003)

Methods

Results

Conclusion