The effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield of irrigated potato (Solanum tuberosum) at Woflek Kebele, Gishe District, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Regional State, North East Ethiopia

Abstract

Globally, it has been understood that there is a significant contribution of potato both as food security as well as a source of income. Soil fertility is one of the limiting factors that affect potato production. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of inorganic and organic fertilizers on potato growth and yield under irrigated condition. The Woflek peasant participants were selected using purposive sampling techniques to get relevant information and a plot for the experiment in a randomized complete block experimental design with eight treatments replicated three times within the farm. A potato seed/tuber variety ‘’Jalene cultivar’’ was grown. The data were collected through field observations, questionnaires and field experiments. A field experiment was carried out on growth and yield components of potato by identifying the soil physio-chemical characteristics. Soil analysis results before planting revealed that the experimental soil contained organic carbon (1.14%), available phosphorus (3.6 ppm), total nitrogen (0.112%), potassium (1.16 cmol (+) kg soil), electrical conductivity (0.053 Ms/cm) and pH (7.54) with clay in texture. The experimental results show that maximum values of shoot length (64.9 cm/plant), stem diameter (5.7cm/plant), number of branches (13.0/plant), number of leaves (40.5/plant), fresh tuber weight (904.5g/plant), shoot fresh weight (201.3 g/plant), number of tubers (13.7/plant) and marketable tuber yield (36.9 t/ha) were recorded from the combined application of inorganic and organic fertilizers (compost) at a rate of 18.9g/m2 of Urea, 16.2g/m2 of NPSB and 720g/m2 of compost. However, the minimum value of shoot length (44.8 cm/plant), stem diameter (4.5 cm/plant), number of branches (3.9/plant), number of leaves (16.4/plant), fresh tuber weight (305 g/plant), shoot fresh weight (124.0 g/plant), number of tubers (9.8/plant) and marketable tuber yield (9.1 t/ha) were recorded from the control treatment. This study indicated that the combined use of inorganic and organic fertilizers can significantly increase the potato growth and yield. Therefore, it can be recommended that the soil requires the mixed use of inorganic and organic fertilizers for the potato growth and yield in the study area. Therefore, the Wolflek local community should use the integrated fertilizers.