EFFECTS OF INTRA AND INTER ROW SPACING ON YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENT OF POTATO (Solanum tuberosum L.) IN KERSA DISTRICT, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Population density is an important agronomic management practices in the production of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). However, potato farmers in Ethiopia often use random population density, which contribute to the low yield of the crop. The experiment was conducted at Burka Woter in model farmers in Kersa District, East Hararghe Zone during main cropping (meher) rain season of 2019, with the aim to assess the effect of intra and inter row spacing on growth, yield related traits and yield of potato. The experiment were evaluated using potato (Bubu) variety laid out in 4x4 factorial arrangement of randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, which consists of four intra-row spacing, (20,25,30,35 cm) and four inter-row spacing (50,60,70,80 cm). Treatment was assigned to a plot in each replication, in five rows and in each row there was 18, 14, 12 and 10, plants for, 20, 25, 30, and 35 intra rows spacing, respectively. The gross plot size- (3.6m length x 5 rows x inter row distance meter). Data days to 50% flowering and 90% maturity, plant height (cm), stem number, and tuber weight (g tuber-1), tuber yield (gm hill-1), number of marketable and unmarketable tuber plant-1 and total tuber yield (t ha-1) data were collected and analyzed by using Gensat software computer. The ANOVA results revealed that both main and interaction effects of inter and intra row spacing not significantly (P < 0.01) influenced on days to 50% flowering. However, the ANOVA results revealed that the main and interaction effect of inter and intra row spacing was highly significantly (P < 0.01) influenced days to 90% maturity, plant height (cm), stem number, and tuber weight (g tuber-1), tuber yield (gm hill-1), number of marketable and unmarketable tuber plant-1 and total tuber yield (t ha-1) due to the treatments. The result of this study shows that the highest plant height and stems number was found in wider spacing. In the same way, the number of tuber per plant, tuber weight , Marketable and unmarketable tuber increased when potatoes are planted in intra and inter row spacing of 20 x 50cm, 35x80cm,25x60cm and 20x50cm respectively. The xiv longest days to 50% flowering were as intra row spacing of 80cm and days to 90% maturity at widest interaction of 35x80cm. However, the highest total tuber yield tone ha_1 at the inter and intra row spacing of 50 and 20cm respectively and at the narrow spacing of 20 x 50cm