Journal of Agriculture and Food Research (Mar 2024)
Combined application of farmyard manure and NPSB fertilizer rates determination for the optimal tuber yield of potato in Ethiopia
Abstract
In Ethiopia, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is grown to ensure food security and provide income for smallholder farmers, but its productivity is low due to poor nutrient management. The combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers can enhance the productivity and quality of potatoes. This study aimed to determine the optimum combination of farmyard manure and NPSB fertilizer rates for the optimal potato yield. The study was conducted in two locations for the 2020 and 2021 cropping seasons using randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that the combined application of FYM and NPSB fertilizer significantly influenced main stem number, plant height, marketable tuber number and yield, unmarketable tuber yield, total tuber number, and total tuber yield. The highest marketable tuber number per hill (8.51), marketable tube yield (41.85 t ha−1), and total tuber yield (44.10 t ha−1) were obtained at the Waka by the application of 2.5 t ha−1 FYM + 75 % of the suggested NPSB fertilizer rate. At the Kachi, the maximum marketable tuber number per hill (7.12), marketable tube yield (40.72 t ha−1), and total tuber yield (41.46 t ha−1) were recorded by the application of 5 t ha−1 FYM + 50 % of the suggested NPSB fertilizer rate. The economic analysis resulted in the highest net benefits (552454.18 ETB ha−1) with the highest marginal rate of return(5477.90 %) at Waka, while the application of 5 t ha−1 FYM + 50 % of the suggested NPSB fertilizer rate gained the highest net benefits (534656.12 ETB ha−1) with the highest marginal rate of return (8064.59 %) at Kachi. Therefore, potato-growing farmers should use 2.5 t ha−1 FYM +75 % of the suggested NPSB fertilizer rate and 5 t ha−1 FYM +50 % of the suggested NPSB fertilizer rate at the Waka and Kachi, respectively, and similar soil types.
