Growth, yield and quality responses to plant spacing in potato (Solanum tuberosum) varieties

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted from November to March during the 2012 / 2013 planting season at Africa University farm, Mutare, Zimbabwe to evaluate the effects of plant spacing and different potato varieties on growth, yield and quality of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block design with 4 × 3 factorial arrangements of treatments. The first factor was plant spacing (in-row spacing); 20, 25, 30 and 35 cm. The second factor was varieties: BP1, KY20 and Mnandi. Very close spacing produced a high number of small sized tubers leading to reduced marketable yield. The highest stem count was observed at high plant densities, the lowest at low plant densities. At low density plantings, leaf number per plant was high and at high density plantings the leaf number was reduced across all varieties. BP1 and KY20 exhibited the highest specific gravity and Mnandi had the least. Results of the study suggest that a wider spacing of 90 by 35 cm can be advantageous for all the three varieties since all the varieties compensated for the additional spacing to produce the highest marketable yield yet with less seed thus reducing production cost. Also from the study, an in-row spacing of 25 cm can be used by seed producers since the highest number of medium sized tubers was obtained and this size is normally used as seed.

Growth and Quality Responses to Plant Spacing in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Varieties

“…The variable response of varieties for marketable yield per plot attribute to their genetic makeup. The findings are in line with the results of earlier reserchers Mangani et al, [10] and Tessema et al, [19] in potato.…”

“…Overall a canopy that has higher photosynthetic rate will have a higher growth rate and stem growth. The results were in agreement with the finding of Mangani et al [10]. Interaction effect of varieties and spacing on plant height at 30 DAS , 60 DAS, 90 DAS indicates the strong influence of spacing on varietal response .…”

“…Significant interaction effect of varieties and Spacing for marketable yield per plot was also observed by earlier researchers Mangani et al, [10]. There was increased marketable yield with wider spacing.…”

“…Significant differences for tuber yield per plant and per plot among different varieties was also observed by earlier researchers, Habtamu et al, [23], Eatan et al, [24], and Tessema et al ., [19] in potato. Significant interaction effect for total yield per plant and plot among varieties, spacing and their interaction was also observed by Mangani et al, [10] . Higher yield in Kufri Pukhraj was also reported by Dash et al, [25].…”

“…The present findings are harmony with the finding of Getachew et al,. [31] and Mangani et al, [10] in potato. Significant role of genetic makeup as depicted by the significant variation among different varieties for dry matter content was also advocated by Abebe et al, [32] and Tessema et al ., [19] in potato.…”