ASSESSMENT OF SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION AND VARIETY ON WATER EFFICIENCY OF POTATO IN KURU, JOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Assessment of supplemental irrigation (SI) rate and variety on water use (WUE) of potato (Solanumn tuberosum L) was conducted during the cropping seasons of 2017 and 2018 at the Research Farm of National Root Crops Research Institute Kuru, Jos Nigeria. The treatments consisted of four levels of water applications (W1= controL, W2 = SI of 200 m³, W3 = SI of 400 m³, W6 = SI of 600 m³) and two variety of potato (V1 = diamat; improved variety and V2 = local variety). The factors were combined to give 8 treatments combinations that were laid in a 2x4 split plot arrangement in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) each replicated three times. Water use efficiency of potato was calculated using formula. Water use efficiency data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Supplemental irrigation of 400 m³ gave higher water use efficiency. The interaction effect showed that supplemental irrigation rate of 400 m³ x variety diamat produced better water use efficiency. Variety diamat x supplemental irrigation of 400 m³ is recommended for potato growers in the study area.