Adaptability study of improved potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties at Shebench District, South-western Ethiopia

Abstract

Potato is one of the strategic crops, enhancing food security and economic benefits to Ethiopia, but lack of well adapted cultivars is one of a production problem that account for low yield and small area cropped to the nation. Thus, it is essential to evaluate such genotypes, which have high yield potential and are suitable to local environmental conditions. Therefore, this experiment was conducted in Shebench district of Bench-Maji zone during 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 main cropping seasons with the objective of selecting adaptable potato varieties with good agronomic traits. The study comprised of nine improved potato varieties laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The phenological, growth and yield data were collected and analyzed using SAS Version 9.2 statistical software. The result of the study revealed that all of the variables considered were significantly affected by varieties. Accordingly, Maracharre took significantly longer days to emerge (14) and mature (109), while Gudanie, Gera, Shenkola, Jalene and Belete flowered lately as compared to other varieties. The maximum plant height was recorded from Gorebela, Gudanie, Belete and Shenkola varieties, while Gudanie (5.80) and Jallanie (6.53) showed more stem number per hill. In terms of disease incidence, Gudanie was observed to be resistant to potato late blight disease with only 6.67 incidence percentage. Concerning yield and yield components, the highest value of tuber number per hill (25.27), marketable yield (41.07t/ha), unmarketable yield (6.65 t/ha) and total tuber yield (47.72 t/ha) were recorded from variety Marrachere followed by Gudanie where its marketable and total tuber yield is 39.39 and 40.72 t/ha, respectively. Therefore, considering the yield potential and disease tolerance, variety Marrachare and Gudanie were observed to be promising and recommended in highlands of Shebench and similar agro-ecologies.