Influence of intra row spacings on yield and yield components of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Varieties at high lands of guragie zone, southern Ethiopia

Abstract

A 4x4 factorial experiment arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at Geta Woreda, Guragie Zone, Southern Ethiopia from December 2009 to April 2010 cropping season to assess the effects of intra-row spacing and variety on yield and yield components of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Four intra-row spacings (20, 25, 30 and 35 cm) and four potato varieties (Gudenne, Jalenne, Gera and Guassa) were used in the experiment. The results revealed that Jalenne and Guddene produced the highest marketable tuber yield; 31.69 t ha-1 and 29.72 t ha-1, respectively and the least was from Gera, 26.15 t ha-1. Variety Jalenne planted at 20 cm intra-row spacing recorded the highest LAI (11.54) and the lowest was recorded from Gera planted at 35 cm. The total tuber yield was significantly and positively associated with stem number (r = 0.71**), marketable tuber number (r = 0.31* ) and marketable tuber yield (r = 0.99**) whereas significantly and negatively correlated with unmarketable tuber number (r = -0.42* ), and unmarketable tuber yield (r = -0.46* ). In general, from the obtained results, it can be concluded that intra-row spacing, variety, and their interaction had valid effects on tuber yield significantly for variety Gudenne at 30 cm intra-row spacing in the study area. Thus, Gudenne variety planted at 30 cm intra-row spacing has been identified best in terms of yield and in using the scarce land of the area efficiently and effectively. Since this experiment was conducted only for one season, to come up with conclusive result, further investigations need to be conducted in line with irrigation methods and frequency, fertilizer types and rate, simultaneously at both major growing seasons (belg and meher) of the study area.