Effects of Blended NPSB Fertilizer on Growth and Yield of Potato: A Review

Kelem Muluneh
Department of Horticulture

Sintayehu Tenaye
Debre berhan University

Abstract

Potato, an essential vegetable crop to the global food security, yet in many regions, including Ethiopia, their productivity is constrained by lack of high yielding varieties, tolerant to late blight, climatic limitation, inadequate seeds, lack of appropriate cultural practices, poor post-harvest management & storage problems, high cost of farm inputs, diseases and insect pest problems and low soil fertility. The advantages of applying secondary and micronutrients like sulfur and boron together are becoming more commonly recommended, even if the sole impacts of macronutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are well known. This review summarizes the findings of studies on the sole and synergetic impacts of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and boron on potato growth and yield. According to various researches, applying each nutrient in a sole manner significantly improves growth and yield of potato. At the same time, these nutrients are applied synergistically in blended NPSB fertilizers; the highest plant height, stem count, marketable, and total yield are also recorded. The review concludes that there is a need to a paradigm shift from conventional fertilization to balanced nutrient management using blended NPSB to boost sustainable potato productivity in Ethiopia as well as other similar agro-ecologies.

Keywords: Blended Fertilizer, Potato, Yield