Effect of Plant Spacing and Seed Size on the Growth, Development and Yield of Potatoes

Abstract

Potato is one of the most valuable food crops and a mainstay in the diets of people in many parts of the world. It is one of the crops that play key roles as a source of food, income, and a raw material for factories in Uganda. This study mainly focused on understanding the effect of plant spacing and seed size on the growth, development and yield of potatoes. Nakapot 1variety of potatoes was used in this study. The experiment consisted of two factors. Plant density and seed size, the first factor involved three seed sizes; greater than 46mm, (S3) 35-45mm (S2) 20-34mm (S1) in diameter. Spacing was 75 by 40cm (P1) 75 by 30cm (P2) 75 by 25cm (P3). These were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications in each row that had three plots. Thus, there were 9 plots for each treatment. The growth factors considered were; tuber emergence, Leaf Area Index, while yield parameters were; the number of tubers per plant, weight of tubers per plant. The results showed that spacing and seed size did not have a significant effect on tuber emergence and did not influence maturity of the potato plants. However, a wide spacing of 75 by 40 cm together with bigger seed sizes greater than 46mm in diameter produced many tubers in number and which are of a bigger size compared to the spacing of 75 by 30 Cm while 75 by 25cm spacing together with 20-34mm seed size produced the least number of tubers and with very small sizes. The study concluded that a spacing of 75 by 40cm planted with seeds of 46mm produces many tubers and of a bigger size than the rest therefore farmers are advised to take it up for better results.