Abstract:
A field expe
riment was conducted at Dabat,
north
western Ethiopia to
determine the opt
imum
and economically feasible nitrogen and p
hosphorus fertilizer rates for potato production under
rainfed condition.
To evaluate the optimum and economically feasible Nitrogen and
Phosphorus fertilizer rates for potato production under rain
-
fed condition in Dabat District.
The
productivity of potato crop in the study area is low due to soil fertility problem.
Four rates
of
nitrogen (0, 55, 110 and 165 Kg ha
-
1
) and four rates of phosphorus (0, 20, 40 and 60 Kg ha
-
1
)
were combined in 4 x 4 factorial arrangement and laid down in randomized complete block
design with three replications. Improved potato variety known as “Belet
e” was used as a test
crop. The results of the study revealed that both the main and interaction effects of
nitrogen
and phosphorus on
most of the studied yield and yield component parameters of the crop
were
significant
.
The overall the result of this stu
dy showed that different nitrogen and phosphorus
rates and their interactions have significant impacts on growth and tuber yield of potato.
The
combined effect of different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus revealed that the rate of
nitrogen at 110 kg ha
-
1
combined with phosphorus
at a rate of
40 kg ha
-
1
gave
the highest yield
of
total tuber
(45.38
t ha
-
1
)
and marketable yield (39.1
t ha
-
1
)
. The treatment combination of 55
kg N ha
-
1
and 40 kg P ha
-
1
gave the second highest yield of
t
otal
tuber
(
44.97
t
ha
-
1
)
and
marketable yield (39.02
t ha
-
1
)
. Yield of tubers per hectare was significantly and positively
correlated with plant height, average tuber weight and total number of tuber. Economic
analysis revealed that application of 55 kg N ha
-
1
with 40 kg P ha
-
1
gave maximum net return
(
187,603.6
B
irr ha
-
1
) with marginal rate of return
(
3,934
%).
On the basis of the results of the
present study farmers around Woken
Kebele,
Dabat and similar areas can be benefited by
tentatively use 55 kg ha
-
1
of nitrogen in combination with 40 kg
ha
-
1
phosphorus.
Keywords:
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, potato t
uber yield
