College of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources Management

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    Effects of Time of Earthing up and Varieties on Growth, Yield and Quality of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Southern Zone of Tigray, Northern
    (Mekelle University, 2025-06-16) Berhe Tsegay Hishe
    Potato is the fourth largest food crop globally, following rice, wheat, and maize. In Ethiopia, it serves as both a food and cash crop, playing a vital role in improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, especially in the highlands. However, productivity remains low due to factors such as limited knowledge on optimal agronomic practice particularly time of earthing up and the use of low yielding varieties. This study evaluated the effects of time earthing up time and varieties on growth, yield and quality of potato. The experiment was conducted under irrigation from February to June 2024 in Southern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with factorial combinations and three replications. Treatments included four time of earthing up (Control, 15, 30, and 45 days after complete emergence) and three varieties (Local/Tebeb, Gudenie, and Belete). Results showed that the time of earthing up and varieties, and also their interaction effects had showed significantly influenced (P < 0.05) on growth, yield and quality parameters. Earthing up at 15 days after complete emergence was recorded the tallest plants (81.02 cm), the highest average tuber weight (52.62 g), number of large size (22.59), specific gravity (1.220) and dry matter content (24.40%), lowest number of unmarketable (4.4) and number of greening tubers (1.669) compared to the control (no earthing) and late earthing up. Gudenie recorded the highest number of stem (10.750), plant height (79.20cm), number of large size tuber (18.06), weight of large size tuber (1136.8 g), dry matter content (22.86%) and the lowest number of unmarketable tuber (2.683) that compered to local (Tebeb) varieties. The combination of Gudenie variety with 15 days earthing up was obtained highest total tuber number (33.80), total tuber yield (31.90 t/ha) and marketable yield (31.11 t/ha), whereas the lowest marketable yield (10.89) and total tuber yield (14.05) was from the combination of local (Tebeb) with no earthing up. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between average tuber weight and both marketable (r=0.791) and total tuber yield (r=0.84), whereas greening negatively affected on yield performance. Economic evaluation demonstrated that the Gudenie variety, when earthed up at 15 days after complete emergence, achieved maximum profitability, with a net benefit of 1,185,496 ETB/ha and a marginal rate of return of 1,520%. These findings suggested that the combination of Gudenie with 15 days earthing up was recommended for potato production in the study area and similar agroecological zones. However, further research across multiple locations, seasons, and years was necessary to validate and generalize these recommendations.
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    Nitrogen rate, Plant Density and Weeding effect on Weed Dynamics and Yield of Onion (Allium cepa L) under Irrigated Condition in Enderta District, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia
    (Mekelle University, 2025-02-01) Birtukan Gebrekiros
    plots. In addition, maximum marketable yield (9965 kg/ha), total bulb yield (9992 kg/ha) were recorded from weeded plots. Higher bulb shape index (1.3) which is considered as non-desirable was found on weedy plots. Plant density had significant effect on leaf length, bulb weight, bulb diameter as well as bulb shape index. The highest leaf length (33.7cm), bulb weight (53.6g), and bulb diameter(4.4cm) was obtained at high plant density from hand weeded plots. Onion bulbs had highest shape index (1.2) at plant density of 333,333 plants/ha on hand weeded plots. Likewise, N rate had significant effect on days to 90% maturity and bulb length. The highest bulb length (5cm) was recorded from hand weeded plots received 46kg N ha-1. Onion maturity was delayed when N was applied at a rate of 69 kg N ha-1 on hand weeded plots. Except hand weeding, all other factors did not have significant effect on onion marketable yield, unmarketable yield and total bulb yield. Maximum marketable yield (9,965 kg/ha) was obtained from hand weeded plots and the lowest marketable yield (4758) was recorded from un weeded plots. Generally, weeds cause a yield loss of (52.2) %. In conclusion, weed species found in onion field were comprised of a wide range of annual species in life cycle and broad leaf in nature of growth habit. Hand weeding resulted in weed dynamics and shifted weed-crop competition advantage in favor of the crop. It influenced the crop throughout its growth and development. Variation in amount of N rate fertilizer resulted in weed dynamic and influenced only bulb length. However, plant density did not have visible effect on weed and the crop’s growth, development and productivity. In recommendation. The experiment has to be repeated in more location and season to make a conclusive recommendation