Growth, Yield And Yield Attributes Of Garlic (Allium Sativum L.) As Influenced By The Interaction Of Varieties And Rates Of Nps Blended Fertilizer In Mettu, Southwestern Ethiopia

Garlic productivity in Ethiopia (9.18 t ha-1) is very low compared to the world average (18.4 t ha-1), due to various factors, of which imbalanced fertilizers and lack of improved variety are the serious problems. Therefore, this experiment was conducted in 2019 at Mettu, Southwestern Ethiopia with the objective of investigating the effect of NPS blended fertilizer rate on growth, yield and yield attributes of garlic varieties. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design in three replications using 20 treatments formed from factorially combined five garlic varieties (Tseday, Kuriftu, Chefe, Holeta and local) and four rates of NPS blended fertilizers (0, 181.5, 242 and 305.5 kg ha-1). Data on different phenological, growth, yield and yield related variables were collected and analyzed using SAS, version 9.3. The analysis of variance showed that most of the studied parameters were significantly affected by the interaction of the two factors. The highest total (12.9 t ha-1) and marketable bulb yield (12.9 t ha-1) was recorded from Tseday variety at NPS blended fertilizer rate of 242 kg ha-1 but statistically alike with the same variety at NPS blended fertilizer rate of 305.5kg ha-1, while the lowest was recorded from unfertilized plot of Chefe variety. Similarly, maximum total dry biomass weight (74.66 g plant -1) and highest bulb dry matter content (60%) was recorded from Tseday variety produced at NPS blended fertilizer rate of 242 kg ha-1. The highest net benefit (1,380,252.21ETB ha-1) was recorded from Tseday variety supplied with 242 kg ha-1NPS blended fertilizer. Thus, it can be concluded that the use of variety Tseday with the application of 242 kg ha-1 NPS blended fertilizer is economical. However, the results of the present study need to be validated and verified in different agro ecologies for different seasons in order to give a comprehensive recommendation.