Effects of bended NPSB fertilizer rates and varieties on growth and yield of garlic (Allium sativum L.) in Gummer district, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Garlic is grown by farmers using locally available low yielder traditional cultivars with little or no fertilizer input, which results in a low yield in the study area. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the responses of garlic varieties to different rates of NPSB. Garlic varieties (Kuriftu, HL (Holeta), Tseday, and ‘Tuma’) and four levels of NPSB fertilizer rates were arranged in 4X4 factorial and RCBD design was used in three replications. The interaction between fertilizer and variety had a significant effect on plant height, leaf number, and nearly all yield and yield-related parameters. The highest total bulb yield was obtained from variety Kuriftu (8.81 t ha ̄ ˡ) at the N: P2O5: S: B rate of 46.1:91.9:16.9:0.2kg ha ̄ ˡ. The maximum plant height (74.17cm) was recorded from variety HL at 46.1:91.9:16.9:0.2 kg/ha N: P2O5: S: B and the highest number of garlic leaves (10.33) was obtained from variety Kuriftu, which received the highest N: P2O5: S: B at rate of 65:129.7:23.9:0.3 kg/ha. The highest and statistically significant bulb weight was recorded equally from varieties Kuriftu, Tsedey, and HL (43.42g, 42.77g, and 41.92g, respectively). Statistically similar and highest marketable bulb yields (8.14 t ha ̄ ˡ and 7.36t/ha) and total bulb yields (8.81 t ha ̄ ˡ and 8 t ha ̄ ˡ) was recorded from variety Kuriftu interacted with 46.1:91.9:16.9:0.2 kg ha^-1 and 65:129.7:23.9:0.3 kg/ha, respectively. Thus, the combined applications of 46.1:91.9:16.9:0.2 kg ha^-1 NPSB and variety Kuriftu can be provisionally recommended for garlic producers in Gummer district.