Response of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.), To Nps Fertilizer Application on Growth Parameters at Mizan -Aman, South West Ethiopia

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important crops globally. There is little information on balanced use of chemical fertilizer on potato production in Benchi-Maji Zone. Thus, a field experiment was conducted with the objective to investigate the effect of NPS fertilizer rate on the growth parameters of potato. The treatment consisted of four levels of NPS fertilizer (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1) which were laid out in RCBD with three replications. Improved potato variety "Gudene" was used as a test crop. NPS fertilizer rate had significantly influenced almost all the tested parameters of potato. Day's to 50% flowering was highly significantly affected by NPS rate. Early day to flower were obtained with the application of 100 kg ha-1 of NPS fertilizer and late flowering recorded at 150 kg ha-1 NPS fertilizer application rate. Significantly highest plant height of potato was obtained from application of 150 kg ha-1 NPS fertilizer and the smallest height is obtained from application of 50 kg ha-1 NPS fertilizer.