EFFECTS OF BLENDED NPSB FERTILIZER RATES ON GROWTH, YIELD COMPONENTS AND YIELD POTATO (Solanum tuberosum L.) VARIETIES IN MESRAK BADAWACHO DISTRICT, HADIYA ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important cold-season vegetable crops consumed worldwide. The limiting macro and micronutrients were identified for the production of potato crops in Hadiya zone of the Mesrak Badwacho districts. Studies on the rates of these nutrients for potential potato yield is limited. Therefore, this research was conducted to determine the effect of blended NPSB fertilizer rates on yield and yield related traits of potato varieties at Wera Gera Kebele, Hadiya zone in 2022 cropping season. The experiment was conducted in a factorial combination of five levels of blended NPSB fertilizer rates (0, 100, 150, 200, 250 kg ha-1 ) and four potato varieties (Belete, Gudene Jalene and local) in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The results of the study revealed that variety and blended NPSB fertilizer showed a significant effect on crop phenology, growth, tuber yield and yield components. The interaction effect of variety and blended NPSB fertilizer showed a significant effect on most of the traits measured except unmarketable tuber yield. Belete at 250 kg ha-1 NPSB had significantly delayed days to 50% flowering and days to 90% maturity at about 53.00 and 102.27 days respectively. Similarly, the application of highest rates of NPSB fertilizer (250 kg ha-1 ) significantly delayed 50% flowering and 90% maturity at about 54.00 and 94.4 days after planting for Jalene and local cultivar respectively . The tallest plants were observed from Belete and Gudene at rates of NPSB fertilizer (200 and 250 kg ha-1 ), respectively. The Variety Belete showed the highest marketable tuber yield (40.33 t ha-1 ) and total tuber yield (43.8 t ha -1 ) with the application of 200 kg ha-1 NPSB fertilizer rate followed by variety Gudene (36 t ha-1 ) at the same level of NPSB fertilizer rates. In terms of economic performance, 200 kg ha-1 NPSB fertilizer was found to show the marginal rate of return (840%) acceptable net benefit (313,780) in variety Belete. Therefore, potato-growing farmers are advised to apply 200 kg ha-1 of NPSB fertilizer to grow Belete variety. In addition, Gudene variety at 250 kg ha-1 NPSB fertilizer was found to show the marginal rate of return (2050%) and net benefit (279,080) can be considered as an alternative recommendation to increase the productivity of potato in the study area. Thus, it is recommended to conduct further study considering the Belete and Gudene potato varieties and different rate of NPSB fertilizer to make sound recommendations to increase the yield of this crop.