Potato Productivity Enhancement by Combined Use of Blended Fertilizer (NPSB), Cattle Manure, Vermicompost, and Mineral NP in Acidic Soil

Abstract

In view of declining soil fertility, an experiment was conducted on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Meher (June–October) and Belg (rainfall February to April) seasons at Abelo village in Masha district of southwestern Ethiopia, for determining the effects of blended fertilizer: NPSB mineral, cattle manure (CM), vermicompost (VC) and mineral NP to check the growth, yield and yield components of potato. Outcomes of this study indicated that using 75% of mineral NP combined with 7.5 t VC ha–1 significantly helped in increasing the overall tuber yield to the tune of 36.8 t ha–1 in Belg and 36.7 t ha–1 in Meher. Further, the above-mentioned treatment resulted in the economic return of 131443.5 Birr ha–1 in Meher and 89017.5 Birr ha –1 in Belg with a rate of retuned estimated to be 728.24% in Meher and 214% in Belg season. Based on the results, it was further stated that using the application in combination of 75% of mineral NP (124 kg N ha–1 + 45 kg P ha–1) with 7.5 t VC ha–1 can significantly increase the tuber yield in the study area. The community services were additionally offered to the farmers by organizing their visits to the experimental sites.