2025/01/27 by Muhamman, M. A., Mohammed, I., Lakun, I. H.
#Cold harmattan weather #Farmyard manure #Potato #Variety
paper · doi:10.60787/njhs.v28i3.144-148
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) has become increasingly important in Nigerian agriculture due to its rising consumer demand. However, its cultivation is restricted to certain areas because of the crop's specific environmental requirements. This study was conducted during the 2020 and 2021 cold harmattan dry seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Agronomy, Federal University of Kashere, and at Kwadon, to evaluate the response of potato varieties to farmyard manure (FYM) application rates. The experiment was designed as a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a factorial arrangement with three replications, involving three potato varieties (Caruso, Marabel, and Lady Christel) and five levels of FYM (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 t ha-1). The results indicated significant differences between varieties in terms of plant height, tuber yield per plot, and tuber yield per hectare, with Marabel exhibiting superior performance, particularly at 15 t ha-1 of FYM. Thus, variety Marabel and 15 t ha-1 of FYM can enhance potato production and yield in Gombe and similar environments. Further research is recommended to explore the adoption of Marabel and the optimum FYM rate for wider cultivation in Nigeria.