Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Tuber Yield and Yield Components as Influenced by Different Levels of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium in Rwanda

Abstract

Despite potato yield potential, its intensification level remain low in Rwanda, translating into low yield occasioned mainly by the decline in soil fertility. Field experiments were conducted in Birunga, Mudende [L1]) and Buberuka, Rwerere [L2] highlands Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZs), during September- December 2016 and March-June 2017 crop growing seasons to determine the effects of varying rates of N, P and K on potato tuber yield and yield components. The experiments were laid out using randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement, with four replicates. Factors were N rates (NX) i.e N1-0 kg ha-1, N2 – 50 kg ha-1, N3 – 100 kg ha-1 ; P2O5 rates (PX) i.e P1-0 kg ha-1, P2 – 50 kg ha-1, P3 – 100 kg ha-1and K2O rates (Kx) i.e K1- 0 kg ha1and K2- 50 kg ha-1. Number of tubers per plant, fresh tuber weight, small tuber yield, medium tuber yield, large tuber yield and total tuber yield were measured. Analysis of variance, performed using SAS-version 9.2, revealed that interaction effects of N×P×K were very highly significant on all parameters. Generally, N3×P3×K2 performed better than other treatments and recorded highest tuber yields in all situations: (32.73 ± 0.43) t ha-1[L1] and (29.36 ± 0.41) t ha-1 [L2] and (31.05 ± 0.52) t ha-1for pooled ANOVA. Contrarily to what happened at L2, N3P3K2 andN2P3K2 were not significantly different at L1. N2P3 K2 is recommended to L1 whereas N3P3K2 is recommended to L2.

Seasonal Changes in Photosynthate Partitioning in High Yielding Sweet Potato Varieties under Varied K Nutrition Levels

“…The potassium application increased the yield of sweet potato only up to 75 kg K 2 O/ha. Similarly, influence of potassium on tuber yield and yield components of potato crop was reported by Turamyenyirijuru et al (2019).…”

Current Knowledge, Research Progress, and Future Prospects of Phyto-Synthesized Nanoparticles Interactions with Food Crops under Induced Drought Stress

“…As researchers delve deeper into this captivating field of study, it is anticipated that integrating nanotechnology into crop cultivation will contribute to sustainable and robust crop production methodologies, ultimately advancing global initiatives to ensure food security and ecological sustainability. Phyto-synthesized-NPs promise to ameliorate plant-water relations during drought stress by enhancing water utilization efficiency and maintaining turgor pressure/For instance, Fe 3 O 4 -NPs have been demonstrated to elevate root hydraulic conductivity and improve water use efficiency in plants subjected to drought stress [115,294,[297][298][299].…”