Evaluation of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Varieties for Yield and Yield Components in Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Potato is one of the strategic crops, enhancing food security and economic benefits to Ethiopia. Ethiopia has suitable edaphic and climatic conditions for the production of potatoes. But lack of well adapted cultivars is one of a production problems that account for low yield and small area cropped to the nation. Therefore, this study was conducted at Haramaya, Hirna and Arberekete to evaluate yield and yield component of 16 released potato varieties (Moti, Belete, Bubu, Ararsa, Gudenie, Bule, Gabissa, Marachare, Harchassa, Gera, Gorrebella, Guassa, Jalenie, Bedassa, Zemen & Chiro) and two local cultivars (Bette & Jarso).The experiment was laid out as a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The results revealed the statistically significant variations in most of the traits. The highest total yield (56.52t/ha) and marketable tuber yield (53.97t/ha) recorded for Gera variety grown at Hirna, average tuber weight (105.24gm) and large sized tuber number (56.3%) for Belete grown at Haramaya large sized tuber weight (80.93%) for Belete grown at Hirna, marketable tuber number (95.83%) for Gera grown at Haramaya and unmarketable tuber weight (55.26t/ha) were observed for Bule grown at Hirna. The high mean small size tuber number (62.75%) for Jarso at Haramaya, small sized tuber weight (37.42%) were observed for Marachere grown at Hirna,  medium sized tuber number (41.72%) for Zemen grown at Arberekete and medium sized tuber weight (49.13%) were observed for Bedasa variety grown at Arberekete. Finally, the result of the study reviled that the genotype and growing environment has a great influence on yield and yield components of potato tubers. Keywords: Genotype, Growing Environment, Potato, Total tuber yield, marketable tuber Yield