Effects of Fertilizers on the Productivity of Selected Potato Cultivars Grown in the Taita Hills Kenya
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)
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Abstract: The objective of this study was to establish the suitable high yielding climate smart cultivar and fertilizer rate for the Taita Hills. Yield parameters were measured for four selected potato cultivars grown in Taita hills, (Shangi, Tigoni, Kenya Mpya and Dutch robjin) and eight fertilizer treatments (cattle manure, 0.05ton/ha NPK, 0.1ton/ha NPK, 0.15ton/ha NPK, manure + 0.05ton/ha NPK, manure +0.1ton/ha NPK, cattle manure and 0.15ton/ha NPK and a control for two seasons. The results from this study showed that the potato cultivar with the highest tuber yield was Shangi. A combination of NPK fertilizer and manure improved the yields. Shangi resulted in an increase in tuber yield with fertilizer than without any fertilizer application. The combination of cultivar and fertilizer rate gave higher tuber yield in the long rains season than in the short rains. The study identified Shangi cultivar as the most suitable for the Taita hills.