Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important food and cash crop in Ethiopia; serving, as a food security crop due to its nutrition content, wider adaptability and early maturing behavior. However, the yield of the crop is constrained by a number of factors. Among which unspecified seed tuber size and limited availability and distribution of improved varieties are among the important limiting factors. A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of seed tuber size on growth and yield performance of potato varieties at Agarfa, Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training College experimental field during 2017. The treatments consisted of three potato varieties (Gudenie, Jalene and Kellacho) and three seed tuber sizes (25-34, 35-45 and 46-55 mm). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement and replicated three times. The results showed that, seed tuber size and varieties significantly affected phenological parameters, stem number, leaf area index, stem density, marketable, unmarketable and total tuber yield, shoot fresh and dry weight, underground fresh weight, and medium weight of tuber size. Leaf number, and underground dry weight and tuber size were significantly affected only by seed tuber size. Varieties and seed tuber size interact to influence plant height, leaf area, number of tuber per plant, dry matter concentration and harvest index. Gudenie and Jalene produced the highest total tuber and marketable yields. Large seed tuber size (46-55 mm) produced higher marketable tuber yields than medium and small tuber sizes. In conclusion, Gudenie variety and large seed tuber size showed superior performance both for tuber yield and tuber dry matter concentration compared with the remaining varieties and small tuber size. Therefore, farmers are encouraged to produce Gudenie or Jalene variety with the use of medium to large seed tuber size for potato production.

Potato is a high potential food security crop in Ethiopia due to its high yield potential and nutritional quality tuber, short growing period, and wider adaptability. Arsi administrative province is one of the potential potato growing areas in southern parts of Ethiopia. The potato is grown there as a field crop, and it substantially supplies potatoes to the whole country. Despite the suitability of this area for high quantity and quality potato production in the country, there are several constraints, which drastically affect to the low production and productivity of potato crop by smallholder farmers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potato seed system, storage, pre-planting treatment practices applied and marketing systems followed by potato producing farmers and to suggest improvement options. In this research, a combination of literature study, expert elicitation, group discussion, field observation, and questionnaire base survey were used. The result of this study showed that a number of factors constraining the system including: unavailability of high quality seed tubers, unavailability of improved varieties, unavailability of improved storage structure, low price of the produce and poor transportation. It is concluded that availability of improved potato varieties, improved storage facilities, use of pesticides and better marketing opportunities are crucial to improve the potato crop system, to alleviate poverty and improve food security of smallholder farmers in the Arsi area in particular and in the country in general.

No abstract

Yield response of field-grown cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) varieties to Bradyrhizobium inoculation

No abstract