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Influence of Plant Spacing and Seed Tuber Size on Yield and Quality of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Central Ethiopia

Zebenay Dagne, Nigussie Dechassa and Wassu Mohammed

Plant spacing and seed tuber size are important agronomic management practices in the production of potato. However, potato farmers in Ethiopia often use haphazard plant spacing and seed tuber sizes, which contribute to the low yield of the crop. A study was designed to elucidating the effect of varied plant spacing and seed tuber sizes on yield and quality of potato. Average tuber weight was significantly affected by combined effects of plant spacing and seed tuber sizes. The highest average tuber weight (119.61 g) was obtained from 35-45 mm seed tuber sizes and at 75 × 30 cm plant spacing treatment combinations. Total tuber yield and marketable tuber yield significantly affected by plant spacing and seed tuber size where the maximum marketable tuber yield (33.68 t ha^-1) and total tuber yields (34.38 t ha^-1) were obtained at spacing of 60 × 30 cm and 50 × 20 cm, respectively, while highest total and marketable tuber yields of 36.16 and 37.65 t ha^-1, respectively, obtained from large-sized tubers (>56 mm). The yield of Starch was significantly affected by seed tuber sizes but, did not influenced significantly on specific gravity and tuber dry matter content of potato. The use of medium plant spacing 60 × 30 cm under seed tubers size of 35-45 mm are recommended for potato production over than other seed tubers size and plant spacing combinations, farmers can use to get maximum yield.