College of Agriculture

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The College of Agriculture is committed to advancing agricultural education, research, and community service. It serves as a center for knowledge creation and dissemination in crop science, animal production, natural resource management, and sustainable agriculture.

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    YIELD AND GROWTH ANALYSIS OF POTATO (Solanum tuberosumL.) VARIETIES UNDER DIFFERENT INTER ROW SPACING AT SILTE ZONE, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA
    (Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2025) NUREDIN RASHID BUSHIRA
    Potato (Solanum tuberosuml. ) is a very important food and cash crop in Ethiopia. This experiment was conducted with the objective to increase production of potato through selecting appropriate varieties and determining appropriate spacing at Silte zone, central Ethiopia during belg cropping season.The experiment was arranged in a factorial combination of three inter-row spacing (60 cm , 75cm and 90 cm), and four potato varieties(Belete, Gudene, Chala and Local cultivar) in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Interactive effects of variety and inter-row spacing significantly (P˂0.05) influenced most of the parameters considered. Days to flowering, leaf area index, total tuber number, marketable tuber number, total tuber yield, average tuber weight per plant, unmarketable tuber number and tuber yield and harvest index were significantly affected by the interaction effects of variety and spacing. Plant height, dry matter content, 90% plant maturity, crop growth rate and relative growth rate (P˂0.05) influenced by the main effect variety and spacing. Days to 50% emergency, Leave number per plant and Stem number per hill were influenced only by the main effect variety. Local cultivar requiring the longest duration (101.22 days). Plant height increased significantly in to increasing inter-row spacing.Gudene varieties produced largest stems number per plant and local cultivar produced smallest stems number per plant. The highest (38.57 t/ha) total tuber yield was recorded from Gudene variety at spacing of 60 c m , whereas the lowest (22.28 t/ha) tuber yield was recorded from local cultivar at spacing 90 cm. The highest marketable (30.48a t/ha) tuber yield was obtained from Gudene variety and lowest was obtained from Local cultivar (18.41t/ha). The Crop Growth Rate values increased progressively with time reaching peak at 45-60 DAP. Therefore, from this study, it can be concluded Gudane and Belete varieties at inter-row spacing of 60 cm and 75 cm resulted in highest marketable tuber yield could be recommended to potato growers in the study area.
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    EFFECT OF INTER ROW SPACING ON GROWTH, YIELD AND TUBER QUALITY OF POTATO (Solanum tuberosum L.) VARIETIES IN HADIYA ZONE, SOUTHERN, ETHIOPIA
    (Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2023) MULUGETA SODANO LANTERO
    Potato is the very important food and cash crop in Ethiopia, especially in the high and mid altitude areas. It is important to select better yielding potato varieties with appropriate plant density per unit of area to get for better yield and tuber quality in given location. This experiment was conducted to determine proper inter row spacing for potato varieties and to select better performing potato variety at Hadiya zone Misrak Badewaccho district, during the year 2022 G.C main cropping season. The experiment was arranged in a factorial combination of three inter row spacing (70 x 30 cm, 60 x 30 cm and 50 x 30 cm) and five potato varieties (Gudane, Zemen, Belete Jalene and local) in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The result revealed that days to 50% emergence and stem number per hill were significantly affected by variety, days to 90% maturity, plant height, leaf number per plant, leaf area index, harvest index, total biomass, total tuber yield, tuber number per hill and tuber size distribution were significantly affected by main factors (variety and inter row spacing) but not by interaction. Days to 50% flowering, leaf area, marketable tuber yield, unmarketable tuber yield, marketable tuber number, unmarketable tuber number, dry matter, total starch content and specific gravity were significantly influenced by main factors (variety and inter row spacing and interaction). The highest, stem number per hill, plant height, leaf number per plant, leaf area, leaf area index, harvest index, total dry biomass, total tuber yield, tuber number per hill, marketable tuber yield, marketable tuber number dry matter and specific gravity was scored from Gudene variety whereas, lowest data was recorded from local variety. The highest stem number per hill, plant height, leaf number per plant, leaf area, total dry biomass, tuber number per hill, specific gravity and total starch content recorded at inter row spacing (70 x 30) cm. The highest interactive effect was scored from marketable tuber yield from Gudene (36.00t/ha -1 ) and Belete (34.67t/ha -1 ) variety and at inter row spacing (60 x 30 cm) whereas, lowest interactive effect was recorded from local (12.83t/ha -1 ) variety and at inter row spacing (50 x 30 cm). Therefore, from this study, it can be concluded that Gudene and Belete varieties at inter row spacing (60 x 30cm and 70 x 30cm) resulted in highest marketable potato yield. The results obtained in this study are based conducted at single season and single location it should be repeated to validate this result before recommending to the area.
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    VARIABILITY FOR YIELD, YIELD COMPONENTS AND QUALITY VARIABILITY FOR YIELD, YIELD COMPONENTS AND QUALITY VARIABILITY FOR YIELD, YIELD COMPONENTS AND QUALITY OF POTATO (Solanum tuberosum Solanum tuberosum L.), CULTIVARS TESTED TESTED IN CENTRAL ETHIOPIA
    (Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2019) ABDU YASSIN
    This experiment was conducted in three replications of the randomized complete block design at Debre Birhan during 2017 main growing season to assess the nature and magnitude of variability in twelve potato cultivars for tuber yield and nutritional quality. There were highly significant differences among twelve cultivars in all characters, except in days to maturity. The highest and lowest total tuber yield was obtained from Bubu (36.86 t ha-1) and Dinkey (16.28 ton ha-1), respectively. Genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 0.79 to 88.9% and from 0.84 to 92.43%, respectively. Heritability and genetic advance as percent of mean (GAM) ranged from 65.35% to 97.53% and from 1.63% to 183.52%, respectively. High heritability values were coupled with high GAM for all characters except for plant height, total carotenoids, starch content and tuber dry matter for which heritability and GAM were moderate. These values were low for days to maturity and tuber specific gravity. Most of the traits can successfully be improved through hybridization and selection. Total tuber yield ha-1 was positively and significantly correlated with marketable tuber yield, average tuber weight, plant height and starch content but was negatively correlated with iron and crude protein content at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Maximum positive direct effect on total tuber yield ha-1 was exhibited by average tuber weight at genotypic level and by marketable tuber yield ha-1 at phenotypic level. Cluster analysis showed that the cultivars were grouped into five clusters. Cluster I was high in average tuber weight and starch content. Cluster-III was high in total carotenoids, crude protein, iron and zinc but low in total tuber yield ha-1corroborating the negative correlation between tuber yield and nutritional quality except Zn content. Results of this study demonstrated that there is sufficient genetic variability among the potato cultivars. However, it is difficult to make conclusion with one season and one location experiment. Therefore, it is recommended to evaluate more cultivars over locations and seasons to reach on more valid conclusion.
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    STUDY ON PRODUCTION PRACTICE AND EFFECT OF GENOTYPE, IRRIGATION AND ZINC FERTILIZATION ON PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF POTATO IN SEMI-ARID ENVIRONMENT OF TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA
    (Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2025) NIGUSE ABEBE MISGINA
    Potato is the fourth most important world food crop after wheat, rice, and maize because of its great yield and high nutritional value. It is also an important crop among the root and tuber crops grown in Tigray. However, productivity is very low due to moisture stress, climatic variability, traditional agronomic practices that growers undertake, the use of low-yielding varieties and other production constraints. A series of studies were conducted to assess the current potato production practices of smallholder farmers, identify key opportunities and constraints, analyze climate variability and its implications for potato production, and evaluate the relationship between historical climate data and farmers' perceptions. The studies also aim to optimize potato yield by evaluating suitable genotype both under supplement and under nonsupplement irrigation conditions, assess the effects of genotypes and irrigation levels on growth, yield, quality, water use efficiency, and drought tolerance, and examine the effect of Zn fertilizer rates, genotypes, and irrigation levels on yield, quality, and nutrient use efficiency in potatoes. The study used surveys, long-term climate analysis, and field experiments on various potato genotypes and irrigation levels. Survey was conducted in major potato production areas. Long-term daily rainfall and temperature data analysis as well as an interview were carried. For the field experiment five potato genotypes with two and three irrigation levels were used as treatments under rain-fed and irrigation condition, respectively arranged in split plot using randomized complete block design with three replications. Furthermore, three potato genotypes, three-irrigation levels and five Zn fertilizer rates were used as treatments arranged in a factorial complete randomized design with three replications, conducted under controlled screen house conditions . Mann–Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator statistical trend analysis techniques were used to analyze the climate variability , SPSS , and SAS software were used to analyze the qualitative and quantitative data/. The survey result confirmed that potato is the main horticultural crop in the study areas, serving as a source of cash, food, and seed under both irrigation and rain-fed conditions. The average tuber yield under irrigation ranged from 12.6 to 15.0 tons per hectare, while under 2 rainfall conditions, it ranged from 12.4 to 14.6 tons per hectare. Key opportunities for potato production in the study areas include suitable agro-ecological conditions, good soil types, access to irrigation water, and available labor. However, persistent challenges, including diseases and pests, a lack of improved varieties, drought, and limited market access were identified. The study revealed that rainfall patterns in the study areas are showing decreasing trends in annual and seasonal rainfall, coupled with rising temperatures. The seasonal rainfall in the study areas was also highly variable and unevenly distributed. This variability negatively affects the kiremt season, characterized by lateonset and early cessation of rainfall, ultimately shortening the growing period. Farmers have also perceived these changes, noting reduced rainfall and increased temperatures that adversely affected crop production. The study indicates that the interaction between irrigation and potato genotypes significantly affected maturity, yields and water use efficiency under both rain-fed and irrigation conditions. The highest marketable and total tuber yields, along with shorter days to flowering and maturity, were obtained from the genotypes CIP-394611.112 and CIP-390478.90 under both supplemental and full irrigations. Under full irrigation, CIP-394611.112 produced the highest total tuber yield (29.87 t ha⁻¹). Under rainfall with supplemental irrigation, CIP-390478.90 produced the highest yield (28.71 t ha⁻¹).A pot experiment also revealed that the genotype CIP394611.112 with 100% and 75% irrigation levels produced the highest total (0.28 and 0.256 kg pot-1 respectivly) and marketable tuber yields (0.267 and 0.247 kg pot-1 respectivly). The study recommends strengthening extension services for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and promoting water-harvesting techniques to address the primary constraints of pests and drought. Furthermore, it advocates for building a robust seed system by supporting local seed multipliers and strengthening the formal seed sector. A key long-term strategy is breeding improved varieties with enhanced drought tolerance and resistance to local diseases. Research institutions and NGOs should also focus on developing high-yielding drought-tolerant varieties and producing high-quality seed tubers of improved varieties through the establishment of a potato seed multiplier association. In summary, the studies provide valuable insights and recommendations for mitigating the effects of climate change and improving potato production in the Tigray region and other similar areas of Ethiopia. Key interventions include developing and disseminating drought-tolerant potato genotypes, as well as adopting efficient water management practices like small-scale irrigation and rainwater harvesting to offset rainfall variability