Abstract
Fertilizer requirement and spacing vary across locations due to differences in soil types, nutrient and moisture availability, economic factors, and other environmental conditions. Therefore, a field experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different rates of NPS fertilizers and inter-row spacing on growth, yield, yield components, and economic performance of potato in Kechi research farm, Dawro zone of south-western Ethiopia. The experiment was arranged in factorial combination of six NPS (19N–38P2O5–7S) fertilizer rates (0 kg/ha, 50 kg/ha, 100 kg/ha, 150 kg/ha, 200 kg/ha, and 250 kg/ha) and five inter-row spacings (45, 55, 65, 75, and 85 cm) which were laid out in RCBD with three replications using the Gudene variety. Growth, yield component, and yield data were collected and analyzed. In addition, a partial budget analysis was performed. The results showed that the main effect of NPS fertilizer and inter-row spacing had significantly ( P < 0.05 ) affected plant height, tuber number, tuber yield, and tuber size and average tuber weight. Maximum marketable tuber number per plant (11.627), total tuber number per plant (13.020), average tuber weight per plant (83.493 g), the proportion of large-sized tuber number per plant (41.893%), marketable tuber yield (48.056 t/ha), and total tuber yield (51.145 t/ha) were obtained from 200 kg/ha of NPS fertilizer which was statistically at par with 150 kg/ha and 250 kg/ha NPS, while the lowest result for those parameters was recorded from unfertilized plots. Results regarding inter-row spacing revealed that the highest marketable tuber number per plant (11.744), total tuber number per plant (13.144), and average tuber weight per plant (85.559 g) were recorded at 75 cm, while the lowest result for these parameters was recorded at 45 cm. Moreover, the highest marketable tuber yield (45.084 t/ha) and total tuber yield (48.462 t/ha) were obtained from the inter-row spacing of 65 cm which was statistically at par with 55 cm inter-row spacing, while the lowest result for these parameters was recorded at 85 cm. The partial budget analysis further revealed that 200 kg/ha NPS fertilizer gave the maximum net benefit. However, 150 kg/ha NPS resulted in the highest marginal rate of return (4303.91%). Thus, 150 kg/ha NPS fertilizer and inter-row spacing of 55 cm or 65 cm are suggested for attaining higher potato yield.
Highlights
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the world’s most important root and tuber crop after rice, wheat, and maize and has historically contributed to food and nutrition security in the world [1, 2]
Despite the fact that many farmers in Ethiopia have been growing potato, limited information with respect to the intrarow spacing, NPS fertilizer rate and their interaction effects on potato crop is documented. us, the present study examined the hypothesis that potato crop responded to the varied rate of NPS fertilizers and inter-row spacing
Information regarding optimum spacing and nutrient rates for potato production deserves growers’ attention as it is influenced by soil fertility status, crop variety, soil moisture status, and their interaction. us, agronomic and economic responses of potato under varying inter-row spacing and NPS fertilizer rates were investigated in Kechi research farm, Dawro zone of south-western Ethiopia. e result revealed that growth and yield parameters were significantly affected only by main effects of NPS rates and inter-row spacing
Summary
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the world’s most important root and tuber crop after rice, wheat, and maize and has historically contributed to food and nutrition security in the world [1, 2]. Potato tubers are rich in carbohydrates and a mineral resource for consumption; the food needs of half a billion people in the world [1, 2]. E annual production of the world and Africa in the year of 2018 was about 368.2 and 26 million tons, respectively [3]. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the third most important food crop in the world after rice and wheat in terms of human consumption. More than a billion people eat potato worldwide, and global total production exceeds 300 million metric tons. Annual potato production in Ethiopia has increased from 349,000 tons in 1993 to around 743, 153 tons in 2018 [3] and can potentially be grown on about 70% of arable land in the country
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