GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSE OF POTATO (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L) TO ORGANIC AND BLENDED FERTILIZERS

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Appropriate nutrition management of the potato crop is crucial during the entire growth period as part of
a successful agronomic strategy. In places of mid and high altitude where present yields of potato (Solanum tuberosum
L.) are less than 10 t ha-1, where production is severely hampered by inadequate soil fertility, Ethiopia has a significant
potential to boost potato production and productivity. A field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of
integrated application of blended NPS fertilizer and compost on growth, yield parameters and yield of potato (Solanum
tuberosum L.), variety ‘Belete’ under irrigation at Efrata Gidim District, North Showa, Ethiopia in 2022 cropping season.
The treatments consisted of four Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Sulfur (NPS) blended fertilizer levels (0, 50,100 and 150 kg ha-1) and
three compost levels (0, 10 and 20 t ha-1). The experiment was laid out as a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD)
in a factorial arrangement and replicated three times. Data were collected and statistically analyzed using SAS version 9.2
software. The findings revealed that the highest marketable tuber number per plant (14.1), total tuber number per plant
(17.6), marketable tuber yield (13.0 t ha-1) and total tuber yield (15.48 t ha-1) were obtained from combined application of
150 kg ha-1 NPS blended fertilizer and 20 t ha-1 compost. The integrated application of nutrients might have benefited the
crop to access the essential elements for growth and development. The result can be temporarily recommended for potato
producers around the study areas and similar agroecologies.