Effect of Planting Date on Tuber Yield

Optimum planting date is highly location specific and the most important subject in rain-fed potato production. However, there are no research recommendations pertaining to adaptable cultivars and their optimum planting date with due consideration of the environmental condition of Anderacha area. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the effect of planting date and variety on yield and quality of potato at Anderacha woreda, Western Zone of SNNPRS, from October 2011 to March 2012. Five planting times (October 20, October 30, November 9, November 19 and November 29) and three varieties (Jallene, Guidene and local) were combined in 5x3 factorial arrangement and laid out in randomized complete block design with three replicates. Data were collected on growth, yield and quality parameters and analyzed using SAS Version 9.2 statistical software. The result showed that early planting (October 20) delayed emergence and flowering by about 4 and 15 days, respectively and increased plant height by 10.68cm than the latest planting on November 29.