Varietal effects on Productivity of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Kuru, Northern Guinea Savanna, Nigeria

Abstract

A study on varietal effects on the productivity of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) was conducted during the 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons at the Research Farm of the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Kuru, Jos in Plateau State, Nigeria. The study was aimed at assessing the effect of variety on productivity of potato. The treatments consisted of two varieties of potato (improved variety: Daimat, local variety). The experiment consisted of 4 that were laid out in a 2×2 split plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Crop data collected were percent germination, plant height, leaf area, number of leaves, number of branches, number of stems, stem girth, number of tubers per plant, number of seed tubers per plant, number of ware tubers per plant, weight of seed tubers per plant, weight of ware tubers per plant and total yield of potato (tons/ha). Although there was no significant effect of variety on the growth parameters of potato but the improved variety performed better than the local variety.  The improved variety is here by recommended for adoption in the study area.