Evaluation of Potato (Solanum tubersum L.) Varieties for Growth and Yield under Different Planting Dates in the Lowlands of Raya Azaebo, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia.

Abstract

Potato plays a crucial role in food security, poverty alleviation, and income generation in Tigray, particularly in the lowland areas of Raya-Azebo. However, its productivity remains low mainly due to the lack of suitable varieties and inappropriate planting dates. This study aimed to identify the optimal planting date and variety for improving potato yield and yield components in the lowland areas of Raya Azebo, Tigray. The experiment was conducted using three planting dates - October 17, November 2, and November 17- and three potato varieties (Belete, Gudane, and Jaleni), arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications . Data on phenological, yield and yield related parameters were collected and analyzed using GenStat version 18. The results showed that planting date had a significant effect (P<0.001) on days to emergence, flowering, maturity, number of tubers per plant, average tuber weight, tuber diameter, total tuber yield, marketable and unmarketable tuber yields. Variety also significantly affected numbers of tubers per plant, average tuber weight, marketable yield and total tuber yield. Moreover, the interaction between planting date and variety significantly influenced days to emergence, number of tubers per plant, average tuber weight, tuber diameter, total tuber yield, and marketable tuber yield. Potato varieties planted on October 17th matured early. The Belete variety, planted on 2nd November, produced the highest marketable tuber yield (290.4 q ha-1) while the Jalenne variety, planted on November 17, had the lowest yield (156 q ha-1). Marketable tuber yield was negatively correlated with phenological traits, but showed a strong positive association with growth parameters, and yield components. Generally, planting potatoes during the first three weeks of October resulted in the highest marketable and total tuber yields, with November 2nd being the optimal planting date. It is recommended that smallholder farmers and the private sector adopt this planting date for improved potato production in lowland areas of Raya Azebo