Optimum Rate of Blended Fertilizer and Urea Determination for Potato Production under Irrigation Condition in Holetta Research Center, West Showa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Potato is an important food and cash crop in Ethiopia, especially in the high and mid-altitude areas. Lack of scientific recommendation of fertilizer rate to popular varieties limited crop yield, especially under irrigation potential. The research was conducted in Holetta Agricultural Research Center, under irrigation during 2019-2020 off-season to find and recommend the NPSB blended fertilizer and urea rates for potato using rates of blended NPSB + urea (0, 150 + 150, 200 + 150, 250 + 150, 300 + 150, 150 + 250, 200 + 250, 250 + 250, 300 + 250, 150 + 350, 200 + 350, 250 + 350, 300 + 350) kg/ha and recommended 195 kg/ha DAP + 165 kg/ha urea fertilizer and two varieties Belete and Gudenie. The treatment combinations were arranged in randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three replications. The results showed that the rates, variety and interactions were found highly significant for total and marketable tuber yield t/ha, total and marketable tuber number, average tuber number and weight, stem number and height. From these results, it can be concluded that the responses of potato varieties Belete and Gudenie to NPSB+ urea were highly significant on yield and yield components. Even though, it needs location replication with growing season to offer responsible recommendation, it is better to apply 300 kg/ha NPSB + 150kg/ha urea to the Belete potato variety and 150 kg/ha NPSB + 250 kg/ha urea to Gudenie potato variety for high yield and high economic return in Holetta and areas with similar soil type and agro-ecologies under irrigationie.