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Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences - Vol. 10, No. 4
Publication Date: August 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/dafs.104.14395.
Abdeta, A., Chala, G., & Tamiru, T. (2022). Performance Evaluation of IrishPotato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Varieties for Tuber Yield
in Buno Bedele, Southwestern, Ethiopia. Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 10(4). 23-31.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Performance Evaluation of IrishPotato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
Varieties for Tuber Yield in Buno Bedele, Southwestern, Ethiopia
Alemayehu Abdeta
Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO),
Bedele Agricultural Research Center (BeARC), Bedele, Ethiopia
Gebeyehu Chala
Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO),
Bedele Agricultural Research Center (BeARC), Bedele, Ethiopia
Tolasa Tamiru
Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO),
Bedele Agricultural Research Center (BeARC), Bedele, Ethiopia
ABSTRACT
In this study, adaptation trial of improved potato varieties was conducted in Buno
Bedele Zone with the objective of recommending best-performing variety. Four
potato varieties (Belete, Gudenie Jalanie and Horo) were evaluated for their
vegetative growth performance and tuber yield under rain fed conditions.
Combined analysis of data revealed that, varieties showed highly significant at (P
<0.01) variations for days to maturity, number of tubers per plant, Marketable and
tuber yield. The longest days to maturity (95.25 days) was recorded from Gudanie
while the shortest days to maturity (87.25 days) was recorded from Horo. Besides,
the tested potato varieties showed highly significant (P < 0.01) variations for the
number of total tubers per hill. The highest tuber number per hill (22.37) was
recorded from Belete variety where as the lowest tuber number per hill (13) was
recorded from Jalanie. Variety Belete had also highest (24.24 t/ha) marketable
tuber yield followed by Gudanie variety (19.14t/ha) as compared with other
Varieties where as, Jalanie variety had the lowest (9.83 t/ha) marketable tuber
yield. There was highly significant (p<0.01) difference in total tuber yield among
the potato varieties evaluated. The highest total tuber yield (26.24 t/ha) was
recorded from Belete variety followed by Gudanie variety (22.06 t/ha). On the other
hand, the lowest total tuber yield (11.14 t/ha was recorded from Jalane variety
which was found to be at par with Horo variety Belete and Gudenie varities were
also relatively resistant to late blight diseaseas compared to other varieties. On the
other hand Jalanie and Horo varieties were moderately susceptible and moderately
resistant, respectively. The result of the correlation analysis also revealed that
tuber number and number of tubers per plant were significantly and positively
correlated with marketable and total tuber yield. Likewise marketable tuber yield
was also significantly and positively correlated with total tuber yield. Belete and
Gudanie were varieties that showed better performance in terms of yield and yield
component as well as disease resistance. Therefore, the two varieties are
recommended to be demonstrated on farmer’s field for further scaling up.
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Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences (DAFS) Vol 10, Issue 4, August- 2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Keywords: Potato, Adaptation, Tuber yield, Marketable tuber yield
INTRODUCTION
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is originated in the high lands of South America (IPC, 2019). It
is fourth and third most important food crop in the world in terms of production and
consumption, respectively (FAOSTAT, 2021). Among roots and tuber crops, potato is the first
in terms of volume produced and consumed followed by cassava, sweet potato, yams and taro.
Potato is grown in more than 150 countries and constitutes a staple food for about one billion
people in the world in which about a half is found in the developing counties (IPC,
2020). According to global potato production statistics, about 54% of the production is coming
from China, India, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States of America. Potato was introduced to
Ethiopia in the 19th century by a German Botanist Schimper (Pankhrust, 1964). Since then,
potato has become an important garden crop in many parts of Ethiopia and it ranks first among
root and tuber crops (Alemayehu et al., 2020). This is due to the presence of suitable climatic
conditions for potato production, high yield potential, nutritional quality, short growing period
and wider adaptability (MOANR, 2016).
However, the national average yield of the crop in Ethiopia is 13.3 t/ha (CSA, 2021), which is
lower than world average yield of about 20 t/ha (FAOSTAT, 2019). Moreover, the yield of potato
in Ethiopia is lower than that of most potato producing countries in Africa like South Africa and
Egypt, that have attained yield level of 34.0 and 24.8t/ha, respectively (FAO, 2018). In addition
to this, the yield potential of present day of potato exceeds 46 t/ha (Arega et al., 2018),
indicating considerable yield gap that has to be uncovered through adopting improved
production technologies and practices to increase productivity.
The attributes of low production of potato in Ethiopia are due to biotic and biotic factors, of
which lack of improved high yielding and disease resistant varieties is the major one. Thus,
evaluation and selection of potato verities which best adapt to a potential production area like
Gechi and Dega districts of Buno Bedele zone is one of viable strategies to solve production
bottle necks related to lack of improved varieties. Therefore, the objective of this study was: To
evaluate and select best adapted Potato varieties for tuber yield and tuber yield components
for the study areas and other similar agro-ecologies.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Description of the Study Area
The experiment was conducted at Gechi and Dega districts on different farmers’ field during
2020-2021 main cropping seasons.
Gechi District
Gechi district is one of the ten districts in Buno Bedele zone of Oromia National Regional State,
Ethiopia which is located 475 km southwest of Addis Ababa and bordered on the south be
Dedessa district, on the North by Borecha district and Bedele, and Nunu Kumba district of east
Welega zone, on the east and west Bedele district. There are three main agro-climatic zones in
the district. Highland, (27%), midland (50%) and 23% lowland. The experimental site receives
an average annual rainfall of 1850mm with maximum and minimum temperatures of 210c and
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Abdeta, A., Chala, G., & Tamiru, T. (2022). Performance Evaluation of IrishPotato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Varieties for Tuber Yield in Buno Bedele,
Southwestern, Ethiopia. Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 10(4). 23-31.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/dafs.104.14395
180c, respectively. There are two distinct seasons: the rainy season starting in late March and
ending in October and the dry season occurring from November to early March.
Dega District
Part of the Buno Bedelle Zone, Dega is bordered on the south by Chora, on the west by Supena
Sodo, on the north by the West Welega Zone, on the northeast by the the Benishangul-Gumuz
Region, and on the east by Bedele.
Table 1. Description of Potato varieties used in the experiment
Varity Breeder Released year Recommended Altitude (masl)
Belete Holetta research centre 2009 1600-2800
Gudene Holetta research centre 2009 1600-2801
Jalenie Holetta research centre 2002 1600-2802
Horo Bako research centre 2015 2000-2800
Source: MoANR (2016)
Experimental Materials and Design
The experimental test materials consisted of four potato varieties namely Belete, Gudane,
Jalene and Horo, which were released by Holeta and Bako research centers (Table 1). The trial
was arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The
treatments were randomly allotted to each plot. The experimental plot had an area of 6.75 m2
(2.25m width × 3m length). The space between replications and plots was 1.5 m and 1m,
respectively. The space between rows and plants was 75cm and 30cm, respectively. Fertilizer
was applied at the split of 50% during time of planting and the remaining50% at vegetative
stage of growth. Plants in the three middle rows out of the five rows per plot constituted the
net plot used as the sampling unit. Ten plants from the middle rows were taken for sampling
and for growth parameters and the yield was obtained from the harvestable area of the middle
three rows and converted to hectare basis.
Data Collection and Analysis
To evaluate the yield performance and adaptability of Potato varieties, all the data on yield and
yield related parameters were recorded. Days to maturity, plant height (cm), average number
of tubers per plant (hill), average tuber weight (g), marketable tuber yield, unmarketable tuber
yield and total tuber yield (t/ha) were recorded accordingly. Finally, data were analyzed using
SAS Version 9.2 statistical software (SAS., 2012). Correlation analysis among yield and yield
contributing parameters was done using SAS version 9.2 statistical software (SAS, 2012).
Data Collected on Plot Basis
Days to Physiological Maturity: was recorded when the haulms (vines) of 90% of the plant
population per plot turned yellowish or showed senescence.
Tuber Number per Hill: The total number of tubers harvested from 10 randomly selected
plants grown in the net plot area was counted and mean tuber number per plant/hill was
computed and used for further analysis purpose (Zelalem et al. 2009).