Admin, Volume 97 Issue 4 Paper 4

Potato yield enhancement by combined use of NPS blended
fertilizer and coffee husk biochar and its economic analysis

Tamrat Gebre, Sanjay Singh*, and Isreal Zewide
Department of Plant Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Mizan-Tepi University, Ethiopia
*Corresponding author email: sanju80gon@gmail.com
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important tuber crop in Ethiopia, however its yield is far below the potential yield due
to different constraints, soil fertility being main among them. Therefore, a study was conducted at Masha district, south-
western Ethiopia to find out the optimum combination of NPS blended fertilizer and coffee husk biochar (organic source)
for the best economic yield and quality of potato. The treatment consisted of four levels of NPS (0, 121, 242, 363 kg ha-1)
and four levels of coffee husk biochar (0, 4, 8, 12 t ha-1). The experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design
with three replications. Results revealed that the combined application of NPS and biochar significantly (p<0.05) influenced
almost all parameters except average tuber weight, large sized-tuber number, unmarketable tuber number and yield. The
highest mean values of days to 50% flowering (75 days), days to 90% physiological maturity (105 days), plant height (98
cm) and the main stem number (10 hill-1) were recorded from the treatment which received 363 kg NPS ha-1 + 12 t coffee
husk biochar ha-1. Also, the highest marketable tuber number (14.8 hill- 1) and total tuber number (16.2 hill-1) were recorded
under the treatment receiving combined application of 363 kg NPS ha-1 blended fertilizer with 4 t biochar ha-1. The
combined application of 363 kg NPS ha-1 + 8 t coffee husk biochar ha-1 produced the highest marketable tuber yield of 47.8
t ha-1 and the highest total tuber yield of 49.5 t ha-1. The tuber specific gravity of 1.098 g cm-3 and dry matter content of
41.4% were recorded from the treatment which received 363 kg NPS ha-1 + 12 t coffee husk biochar ha-1. The proportion
of small-sized tuber number (55%) recorded from control treatment and medium-sized tuber number (53.3%) were
recorded under treatment consisting of combined application of 363 kg NPS ha-1 + 8 t ha-1 coffee husk biochar. Based on
partial budget analysis the combined application of 363 kg NPS ha-1 with 8 t biochar ha-1 gave an optimum net return of
287112 ETB ha-1 (ETB 1= USD 0.03) and 3820% MRR (marginal rate of return). Summarily, the combined use of NPS with
coffee husk biochar significantly increased potato growth, yield and physical quality.
Keywords: Blended fertilizer, cost-benefit ratio, marginal rate of return (MRR), marketable tuber, tuber yield
Potato is an important vegetable crop 2018). In the other African countries of

constituting the fourth most important food Algeria, Egypt and Malawi, its productivity is
crop in the world following wheat, rice and 30.9, 26.4, and 18.4 t ha-1, respectively
maize and first among root and tuber crops (FAOSTAT 2020). Potato has been considered
(Douches 2013). It is a high potential food as a strategic crop by the Ethiopian
security crop due to its high yield potential, government aiming at enhancing food security
nutritional quality, short growing period and and economic benefits to the country. While
wide adaptability and it can play an important national average yield is far below those
role in improving food security and cash attainable, there exist ample opportunities to
income of smallholder potato growers in unleash this crop’s potential for increased food
developing countries, including Ethiopia security and income generation (Teklemariam
(Adane et al. 2010). It has been cultivated in 2014). Inadequate agronomic management
Ethiopia for over 150 years and is currently practices like faulty agronomic management
grown in many parts of the country. Its practices and inappropriate application of
production area has reached about 66,926 ha, fertilizers, low nutrient reserves in arable soils,
with total production of 921,403.2 tonnes a negative nutrient balance in crop, diseases
cultivated by over 1.2 million households. and insect pests are some of the factors
However, the productivity of this crop in the contributing to the low yield of potato in the
country is very low (13.9 t ha-1) as compared study area Degele in Masha district.
to the world’s average yield of 19 t ha-1 (CSA This crop is a heavy feeder requiring
240 Trop. Agric. (Trinidad) Vol. 97 No. 4 October 2020 0041–3216/2020/040240–252
© 2021 Trop. Agric. (Trinidad)
Potato yield enhancement using NPS blended fertilizer and coffee husk biochar; T. Gebre et al.
relatively large quantities of fertilizers. In the production of potato but the productivity is
study area, use of only chemical fertilizers low, the basic reason for this is low soil fertility
without supplementing them with organic and increased soil acidity, in addition to other
sources, accompanied by high rainfall tends to factors (Isreal et al. 2018). In the study area
cause leaching of most of the macro and micro- there is a high amount of land cover with
nutrients significantly reducing soil fertility, coffee plantation and each year thousands of
thereby adversely affecting crop productivity tons of coffee are processed and the by-product
(Isreal et al. 2018). Therefore, to enhance the (coffee husk) remains unused. Farmers burn
productivity of potato, soil fertility this husk, instead of reusing it for agricultural
management has to be the primary goal of the purposes, which contains a high amount of
producers. The soil of the study area is essential nutrients for plants. This also causes
deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur environmental pollution.
nutrients as indicated in the Ethio-SIS map This study, therefore, was designed to use the
(Ethio-SIS 2016). Farmers need better coffee husk biochar to improve the
technologies, more sustainable practices, and physicochemical properties and ultimately
fertilizers to improve and sustain crop increase potato productivity. No study on the
productivity. However, the cost of chemical effect of the application of biochar, along with
fertilizers and their associated risks on mineral NPS blended fertilizer on the growth,
environmental safety have become yield and physical quality parameters of potato,
unaffordable (Mojtaba et al. 2013). has been done in the study area. Therefore, this
To alleviate these problems, an easily study aimed to develop a recommendation on the
available and an environmentally friendly soil use of coffee husk biochar, along with mineral
amendment, like biochar, is of very high NPS blended fertilizer for the optimum
significance to increase agricultural productivity production of potato.
and ensure food security. Biochar is different
from other charcoals as it is a fine-grained highly Materials and methods
porous charcoal that can be formed as a result of
the pyrolysis of biomass in complete absence or Description of the experimental site
limited presence of oxygen and can be used as a
soil amendment (Gaunt et al. 2014). Currently, This experiment was conducted in the main
biochar has been widely accepted and given cropping season of 2019 at the Degele area,
great attention, not only due to its contribution Masha district of south-western Ethiopia on
to mitigating climate change, but also as a farmer’s field geographically located at 7°24'–
desirable soil amendment material that can 7°52' N latitude and 35°13'–35°35' E longitude
enhance fertility (Helene 2016). Though it is at an elevation of about 2500 m.a.s.l. (Figure
made from various types of plants, biochar 1). Rainfall spreading over the February to
made from the coffee husk is relatively high in October period ranged from 950-1270 mm.
potassium which could lower or replace The monthly mean maximum and minimum
imported sources of potassium. It also has high temperatures ranged from 24°C to 26.5°C from
cation exchange capacity (CEC) as compared June to September and from 12°C in June to
to other types of biochar which can increase 15°C in August, respectively (MMS 2019).
the nutrient holding capacity of soils, leading The soil was sandy- loam and very acidic.
to reduced fertilizer requirement (Domingues
et al. 2017). In the study area, there is a wide
Trop. Agric. (Trinidad) Vol. 97 No. 4 October 2020 241

Figure 1: Map of the study area located in the south-western Ethiopia.
Description of experimental materials was laid out in a randomized complete block

design with three replications. Each plot
Potato variety ‘Belete’ was used as a test crop accommodated six rows, spaced 75 cm apart
which matures in 110-120 days. Blended NPS with 12 plants row-1 maintaining intra-row
fertilizer containing N, P and S (19:38:7) was spacing of 30 cm.
used along with urea as an additional nitrogen
source. The coffee husk was obtained from the Soil sampling for initial physico-chemical
coffee processing industry. The total amount of properties
biochar needed for this experiment was 466 kg,
which was ground to small granules and passed Before planting, the physical and chemical
through 2 mm sieve in order to have a uniform properties of the experimental field soil were
particle size. determined. Soil samples were collected from
the experimental site from 21 locations across
Treatments and experimental design the experimental field randomly in a zigzag
pattern at the depth of 0-20 cm. The working
Treatments consisted of four levels of coffee samples were air-dried, ground, and passed
husk biochar (0, 4, 8, 12 t ha -1) and four levels through a 2 mm-sieve for physico-chemical
of inorganic blended mineral fertilizer NPS (0, analysis. The soil analysis included the
121, 242, and 363 kg ha-1) totalling sixteen determination of total nitrogen, available
treatment combinations. The field experiment phosphorus, soil pH, cation exchange capacity,
242 Trop. Agric. (Trinidad) Vol. 97 No. 4 October 2020
organic carbon and textural composition, i.e. was determined according to Kleinkopf et al.
sand, silt and clay (Piper 2019). Chemical (1981):
properties of coffee husk biochar were also Wa
determined. SG =
Wa − Ww
Experimental procedure and crop where, SG= Specific gravity (g cm-3);

management
Wa= Weight (g) in the air;
Degraded biochar was applied to the
Ww= Weight (g) in water
designated plots by spreading uniformly and
then incorporated into the soil (0-20 cm) a For determining percentage dry matter content
month before planting. NPS blended fertilizer of tubers, five potato tubers were randomly
was applied by drilling along the furrow selected from each plot, chopped into small 1-
s and mixed well with the soil at the time of 2 cm pieces, mixed thoroughly, and two sub-
planting. Pre-sprouted potato tubers were samples each weighing 200 g were drawn and
planted at a depth of 5 cm at specified spacing. designated as fresh weight. Each sub-sample
After 110 days of planting, dehaluming was was dried in an oven at 70 0C until a constant
done to thicken tuber periderm when the plants dry weight was attained. The samples were
reached physiological maturity and senesced. then placed in desiccators to attain room
temperature, then weighed to determine the dry
Data collection matter content.
Days to 50% flowering, days to 90% Data analysis

physiological maturity, number of main stem
per hill and plant height at 90% physiological The analysis of variance was done using SAS
maturity were measured. Data on yield and version 9.3 statistical software (SAS 2012).
yield components were recorded on tubers When the ANOVA showed significant
harvested from 40 hills per plot and averaged differences means of NPS, coffee husk biochar
for tuber numbers per hill. Tubers free from and interaction effects were compared by using
diseases and insect pests and weighing 25 g or least significant difference (LSD) value at 5%
more were considered as marketable tubers. significance (Gomez and Gomez 1984).
Tubers which were unhealthy or injured by
insect pests or weighing less than 25 g were Partial budget analysis
considered as unmarketable tubers. Tuber
weight (g tuber-1) was obtained by dividing the The economic analysis was done using the
total weight of fresh tubers at harvest from the partial budget analysis described by CIMMYT
net area to the total numbers of fresh tubers (1988). Net return Ethiopian Birr (ETB) ha-1
recorded from the net area. (1ETB~0.03 USD) and cost:benefit ratio for
Harvested tubers were graded into three different treatment combinations were
groups for physical quality parameters based calculated by considering the sale price of
on the size of the tuber such as <35 gm (small), potato and cost of fertilizers and labour for all
35-55 gm (medium) and >55 gm (large) field activities done. The treatment which was
(Abbas et al. 2012). For the determination of non-dominated and having a MRR of greater
specific gravity of tubers (g cm-3), the bulk or equal to 100% with the highest net benefit
tuber samples consisting of all sizes weighing was taken to be economically profitable.
about 5 kg were randomly taken from each plot
and washed with water. The specific gravity
Results and discussion available phosphorus that is probably
associated with the pH value (4.96) which is
Certain properties of experimental soil very strongly acidic (Olsen 1954). Further, the
and biochar soil had low total nitrogen and medium organic
carbon (Tekalign et al. 1991) and the C:N is
The textural class of soil belonged to the group characterized as medium (Hazelton and
sandy-clay-loam (Table 1) and the cation Murphy 2007). The biochar had relatively high
exchange capacity of the soil was moderate contents of phosphorus and organic carbon and
(Hazelton and Murphy 2007). The soil had low the pH was alkaline.
Table 1: Physico-chemical properties of the experimental site
Soil Biochar
Parameter Value Value
Soil texture
Sand
Clay 24%
Silt 12%
Textural class Sandy-loam
pH 4.96 8.1
Organic carbon (g kg-1 ) 24.7 4045
Total N (g kg-1) 1 170
Total K (cmol(+) kg-1) 24
Carbon : Nitrogen (C:N) 1:24.7 1:23.7
Available P (ppm) 9.46 2850
CEC (cmol(+) kg-1) 16.34 38
Phenological variables combined application of 363 kg NPS ha-1+12 t

ha-1 of coffee husk biochar. This is, however,
Flowering and maturity statistically similar to that of combined
application of 363 kg NPS ha-1 with 8 t ha-1 of
The combined application of NPS blended coffee husk biochar while, the minimum
fertilizer and coffee husk biochar highly period to 50% flowering (60 days) was
significantly (p<0.01) influenced the days to recorded in unfertilized treatment. Melkamu
50% flowering (Table 2). The maximum and Minwyelet (2018) also reported similar
number of days to 50% flowering (75 days) results for potato crop.
was recorded under the treatment having the

Table 2: Interaction effect of NPS blended fertilizer and coffee husk biochar (BC) on phenology
and growth variables of potato
Treatment Phenology and growth parameters

NPS BC DF DPM NMS (hill-1) PH (cm)
0 0 60.0i 82.0h 6.0g 67.0j
hi gh
4 61.3 84.0 7.0fg 70.0i
8 62.7hg 86.7gfh 7.1efg 75.0h
fg gfh
12 63.7 87.3 7.7cdef 75.0h
121 0 62.3hg 88.3fg 7.4cdef 77.0g
fg ef
4 63.3 89.7 8.1cdef 79.0f
8 63.7fg 91.0ef 7.3defg 81.0e
ef ef
12 64.7 90.7 8.4bcde 81.0e
f ed
242 0 64.3 94.3 8.6bcd 91.0d
4 66.0e 96.7cd 7.9cdef 93.0c
e bcd
8 67.7 98.0 8.0cdef 93.3c
12 69.0d 99.0bcd 8.8bc 94.0bc
c abc
363 0 72.3 101.3 8.4bcde 95.0b
4 73.7bc 103.0ab 8.4bcdef 95.3b
ab ab
8 74.3 103.3 9.6ab 95.0b
12
75.0a 105.0a 10.0a 98.0a
LSD (0.05) 1.4 5.3 1.3 1.5
CV (%) 1.3 3.4 9.8 1.0
Where, DF= days to flowering, DPM= days to physiological maturity, NMS= number of main
stem, PH= plant height. Means superscripted by the same letter are not significantly different
The physiological maturity of potato was Growth parameters

highly significantly (p<0.01) influenced by the
combined use of NPS blended fertilizer and Plant height and number of main stems per
coffee husk biochar (Table 3). The maximum hill
number of days to physiological maturity (105
days) was recorded under the treatment consisting The combined application of NPS blended
of combined application of 363 kg NPS ha-1 with fertilizer with coffee husk biochar highly
12 t ha-1 of coffee husk biochar, parallel to the significantly (p<0.01) influenced the plant
trend of flowering. This could be due to the fact height of potato (Table 2). The tallest plants (98
that increasing NPS fertilizer rates might have cm) were obtained under the treatment receiving
promoted the vegetative phase of potato plants 363 kg NPS ha -1 and 12 t ha-1 of coffee husk
that may, in turn, have prolonged the maturity of biochar, while the shortest plant height (67 cm)
potato plants. The results clearly indicated that was recorded from the control treatment.
increasing NPS blended fertilizer and coffee husk Application of highest rates of NPS blended
biochar rates delayed physiological maturity of fertilizer and coffee husk biochar increased the
potato by 28% as compared to the control of no plant height by 46.3% compared to the control.
NPS fertilizer and no coffee husk biochar. The This result is similar to those of Melkamu et al.
application of phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizer (2019) who reported that combination of 245.1
significantly delayed days to physiological kg NPS ha-1 with 13.5 t ha-1 farmyard manure
maturity of potato (Nigussie et al. 2016). (FYM) increased plant height by 70% while, that
of 245.1 kg NPS ha-1 with 9.0 t ha-1 FYM fertilizers could be a great source to improve
increased by 65.4% as compared to the control soil fertility by slow release of fertilizer to the
plants. soil (Shaaban et al. 2018).
The number of main stems per hill was
significantly (p<0.05) affected by the Yield and yield components
interaction effect of NPS blended fertilizer and
coffee husk biochar (Table 3). The highest Total tuber number per hill
number of main stems (10 hill-1) was recorded
under the treatment having combined The combined use of NPS blended fertilizer
application of 363 kg NPS ha-1 blended and coffee husk biochar significantly (p< 0.05)
fertilizer and 12 t ha-1 of coffee husk biochar influenced the total tuber number (Table 3).
which is similar to the results obtained from The highest total tuber numbers (16.2 hill-1)
the use of 363 kg NPS ha-1+8 t ha-1 coffee husk were recorded with the application of 363 kg
biochar. Thus, the application of highest rates NPS ha-1+4 t ha-1 biochar followed by those
of NPS blended fertilizer and coffee husk receiving the same amount of NPS fertilizer
biochar increased the stem number by 66% with either 8 t or 12 t of biochar with total tuber
compared to the control. The application of numbers being 14 and 12 hill-1, respectively.
biochar loaded with nitrogen and phosphate
Table 3: Interaction effect of NPS blended fertilizer and coffee husk biochar (BC) on yield
components and yield of potato
Treatment TTN MTN UMTN TTY MTY UMTY ATW

NPS BC (hill-1) (hill-1) (hill -1) (t ha-1) (t ha-1) (t ha-1 ) (g tuber-1 )
0 0 10.9d 7.6f 3.3 24.9e 19.9e 4.9 49.6
4 11.1d 7.6f 3.4 28.2bcde 26.6bcde 1.6 57.4
8 11.8cd 7.4f 4.4 25.5de 23.3de 2.6 51.4
12 12.0bcd 9.1def 2.9 30.5bcde 27.5bcde 2.9 56.5
121 0 12.2bcd 9.1def 3.1 27.6cde 25.2cde 2.3 50.0
4 11.1d 9.4def 1.7 33.5bcde 31.2bcde 2.2 66.5
8 11.4cd 8.6ef 2.8 30.5bcde 29.1bcde 1.3 59.4
12 13.5bc 11.6bc 1.9 33.7bcde 30.9bcde 2.8 56.4
242 0 13.0bcd 10.6bce 2.4 32.5bcde 30.3bcde 2.1 55.8
4 13.4bc 11.1bcd 2.3 38.5abc 36.6abc 1.9 64.0
8 13.3bc 11.1bcd 2.2 37.8abcd 34.8bcd 2.2 63.9
12 11.8cd 10.1cde 1.6 34.2bcde 31.6bcde 2.5 65.1
363 0 11.8bcd 9.8cde 2.0 34.4bcde 33.1bcd 1.3 69.1
4 16.2a 14.8a 1.4 39.9ab 38.5ab 1.4 56.0
8 14.0b 12.5b 1.4 49.4a 47.8a 1.6 78.8
12 12.3bcd 10.8bcd 1.4 30.2bcde 28.8bcde 1.3 57.3
LSD(0.05) 2.1 2.0 NS 11.9 12.4 NS NS
CV (%) 10.2 12.2 23.0 11.5 14.5 23.0 20.6
Where, TTN= total tuber number, MTN= marketable tuber number, UMTN= unmarketable tuber number,
TTY= total tuber yield, MTY= marketable tuber yield, UMTY= unmarketable tuber yield, ATW= average
tuber weight. Means superscripted by the same letter are significantly different, NS= not significant.

Combined application of 363 kg NPS ha-1 with influenced (p<0.05) the total tuber yield of
4 t ha-1 of coffee husk biochar increased the total potato (Table 3). The total tuber yield
tuber number by 48% as compared to control increased with combined application of NPS
treatment. This result is similar to the findings blended fertilizer and coffee husk biochar as
of Isreal et al. (2018) and Melkamu et al. (2019), compared to the sole application of either NPS
who stated that the increase in the total tuber fertilizer or coffee husk biochar. The highest
number plant-1 takes place in response to the total tuber yield of 49.5 t ha-1 was obtained
increased application of NP and organic from the combined application of 363 kg NPS
fertilizer (cattle manure) due to the increased with 8 t ha-1 of coffee husk biochar followed by
photosynthetic activity and translocation of other treatments like 363 kg NPS ha-1 with 4 t
photosynthate to the root which probably ha-1 of coffee husk biochar and 242 kg NPS ha-1
helped in the initiation of more stolen in potato. with 4 t ha-1 of coffee husk biochar which gave
yields of 40 and 38.6 t ha-1, respectively. The
Marketable tuber number per hill lowest total tuber yield (24.9 t ha-1) was
recorded in the control treatment. Use of 363
Marketable tuber number was significantly kg NPS ha-1 with 8 t ha-1 of coffee husk biochar
(p<0.05) affected by the combined use of NPS gave the yield advantage of 98.3% as
blended fertilizer and coffee husk biochar (Table compared to that of control. The probable
3). The highest marketable tuber number (14.8 reason for the increase in tuber yield with
hill-1) was recorded under the combined increasing sulphur levels might be attributed to
application of 363 kg NPS ha-1 with 4 t ha-1 of its role in better partitioning of the photo-
coffee husk biochar while, the lowest marketable assimilates in the shoot and tubers. Another
tuber number (7.6 hill-1) was recorded from the probable reason might be that the addition of
control treatment. Thus, the application of 363 phosphorus which enhances the development of
kg NPS ha-1 blended fertilizer with 4 t ha-1 coffee roots particularly lateral and fibrous rootlets
of husk biochar increased marketable tuber which, in turn, contributed to nutrient absorption,
number by 94.7% compared to control. Increase photosynthesis and general physiological
in marketable tubers due to applied nitrogen, processes. Melkamu et al. (2019) also reported
sulphur and phosphorus was associated with a that the application of 245.1 kg NPS ha-1
decrease in number of the small-sized tubers and combined with 13.5 t FYM ha-1 recorded the
increase in the weight of individual tubers. The highest total tuber yields of 47 t ha-1.
application of 180 kg N along with 50 kg S
increased the number of marketable tubers by Marketable tuber yield
43% (Singh et al. 2016). The possible reasons for
the maximum marketable tuber number hill-1 Marketable tuber yield of potato was affected
obtained from the higher combined application significantly (p<0.05) by the combined use of
of NPS blended fertilizer and coffee husk NPS blended mineral fertilizer and coffee husk
biochar could be due to the presence of an biochar (Table 3). The highest marketable
adequate amount of nitrogen which resulted in tuber yield (47.8 t ha-1) was obtained by the
better vegetative growth and greater photo- application of 363 kg NPS ha-1 with 8 t ha-1 of
assimilate for the production of marketable coffee husk biochar followed by those of 363
tubers. kg NPS ha-1 and 4 t ha-1 of coffee husk biochar
and 242 kg NPS ha-1 and 4 t ha-1 of coffee husk
Total tuber yield biochar which produced 38.5 and 36.7 t ha-1,
respectively. However, the lowest marketable
The combined application of NPS blended tuber yield (20 t ha-1) was recorded from the
fertilizer and coffee husk biochar significantly control treatment. Application of 363 kg NPS

ha-1 fertilizer and 8 t ha-1 of coffee husk biochar influenced the specific gravity of potato tuber
increased marketable tuber yield by 139.4% (Table 4). The highest tuber specific gravity
compared to unfertilized treatment. This might (1.098 g cm-3) was obtained with the combined
be due to an increase in the phosphorus application of NPS blended fertilizer rate of
availability in the soil on account of the 363 kg NPS ha-1 and 12 t ha-1 of coffee husk
presence of biochar. Therefore, when the biochar followed by a treatment consisting of
available phosphorus increases in the soil it 363 kg NPS ha-1 and 8 t ha-1 of biochar. The
improves the soil fertility and hence, the lowest tuber specific gravity (1.041 g cm-3)
marketable yields of potato also increased was recorded from the control treatment. This
(Nigussie et al. 2016). explains that significant increase in specific
gravity with the increase in the application of
Quality parameters mineral NPS and coffee husk biochar might be
attributed to the release of macro and
Specific gravity of potato tuber micronutrients from coffee husk biochar. The
results are similar to that of Ahmed et al.
Specific gravity may give an insight into (2015) who reported that potato growth and
estimating the starch content of potato tuber quality were affected by the combination of
because it is the major component of the dry both sources of fertilizers. Kandil et al. (2015)
matter, usually comprising 65-75 % of the total also found improved specific gravity (1.064 g
soluble solids. The combined use of NPS cm-3) with 60% mineral N (238 kg N ha-1)
blended mineral fertilizer and coffee husk when combined with 40 % organic chicken
biochar highly significantly (p<0.01) manure (158 kg N ha-1).
Table 4: Interaction effect of NPS blended fertilizer and coffee husk biochar (BC) on certain
physical quality parameters of potato
Treatment SG DM (%) Tuber size category

(g cm-3) < 35 g 35-55 g > 55 g
NPS BC SST(%) MST(%) LST(%)
i j a d
0 0 1.04 29.0 44.9 28.2 26.8
4 1.05hi 29.9j 44.0ab 31.9abcd 24.0
8 1.06g 31.6i 39.6ab 39.0bcd 21.3
12 1.06gh 32.3hi 33.1abcd 38.6abcd 28.2
121 0 1.07f 33.1gh 37.1de 38.3abc 24.6
ef fg de abcd
4 1.08 34.0 34.1 41.9 23.9
8 1.08def 34.8f 34.5a 44.3cd 21.0
12 1.08cde 35.0f 28.9bcd 46.4abc 24.6
242 0 1.07f 35.0f 33.8abc 47.1ab 18.9
4 1.09bc 36.5e 25.1bcd 45.7abcd 29.0
8 1.09ab 37.4de 21.5abc 48.9a 29.4
bcd cd bcd bcd
12 1.08 38.4 20.7 46.7 32.5
363 0 1.08ef 39.6bc 22.16ab 48.8abc 29.0
4 1.09ab 40.8ab 21.9cde 49.5abc 28.5
8 1.09ab 40.4ab 15.1cdef 53.3a 31.5
12 1.09a 41.4a 17.4cd 50.5ab 32.0
LSD (0.05) 0.0073 1.3 1.6 1.96 NS
CV (%) 0.41 2.1 19.8 23.9 26.5
Where, SG= specific gravity, DM= dry matter content, SST= small-sized tuber, MST= medium-sized tuber,
LST= large-sized tuber. Means superscripted by the same letter are not significantly different, NS= not significant
Dry matter content of potato tuber Medium-sized tuber (%)
Dry matter content is affected by various The combined use of NPS blended fertilizer
factors, among which the most significant are with coffee husk biochar significantly (p<0.05)
tuber maturity, growth character, plant influenced the percentage of medium-sized
nutrients and water uptake. Highly significant tubers harvested (Table 4). The highest
(p<0.01) differences were noted for dry matter percentage of medium-sized tubers (53.4%)
content due to the combined use of NPS was obtained at 363 kg NPS blended fertilizer
blended fertilizer and coffee husk biochar ha-1 and 8 t ha-1 of coffee husk biochar whereas,
(Table 4). The highest percent of dry matter the lowest percentage of medium-sized potato
content (41.4%) was observed under the tubers (28.2%) was found in control treatment.
treatment of the combined application of 363 This indicates that increase of coffee husk
kg NPS ha-1 blended fertilizer and 12 t ha-1 biochar and NPS blended fertilizer increased
coffee husk biochar. However, the lowest tuber the tuber size due to high nutrient dosage as
dry matter content (29.0%) was obtained from there could be no competition for water and
the control treatment. Potato grown with nutrients and this situation increased photo-
combined application of 363 kg NPS ha-1 assimilate production and its redistribution to
blended fertilizer with 12 t ha-1 of coffee husk the tubers finally reducing the number of
biochar increased dry matter content by 42.8% small-sized tubers.
as compared to control.
Large-sized tuber (%)
Potato tuber size
The proportion of large-sized tubers in general
Small-sized tuber (%) increased with the increase in NPS fertilizer
and biochar doses (Table 4). However, the
The production of small-sized tubers was percentages of large-sized tubers were less
significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the than those of medium-sized tubers.
combined application of NPS blended fertilizer
and coffee husk biochar (Table 4). The Partial budget analysis
maximum proportion of small-sized tuber
(45%) was obtained in control treatment while, The results of the partial budget analysis
the lowest proportion of small-sized tuber revealed that the highest net return of Birr
(15.1%) was obtained from the application of 287112 (1 ETB= 0.03 USD) was obtained
363 kg NPS blended fertilizer ha-1 with 8 t ha-1 from the treatment that received 363 kg NPS
of coffee husk biochar. It was concluded that ha-1 in combination with 8 t ha-1 of coffee husk
at low nutrient dosage bulking rate of biochar followed by those of 363 kg NPS ha-1
individual tubers decreased and this situation with 4 t ha-1 of coffee husk biochar and 121 kg
resulted in the higher proportion of small-sized NPS ha-1 with 12 t ha-1 of coffee husk biochar
tubers. Biruk et al. (2015) reported that the which fetched Birr 229812 and 221994 net
number of small-sized tubers was reduced by return, respectively (Table 5). However, the
increasing the nutrient dosage. Isreal et al. lowest net return of Birr 125930 was obtained
(2018) found that the minimum small-sized from the control treatment. The optimum
tuber number was obtained with the combined marginal rate of return (3820%) was recorded
application of 7.5 t ha-1 of cattle manure and from the use of 363 kg NPS ha-1 and 8 t ha-1 of
75% of recommended dose of fertilizer). coffee husk biochar followed by those of 8 t or
12 t ha-1 of coffee husk biochar which gave
1673.3% and 1458.7%, respectively (Table 6).

Dominance analysis was thus carried out by net benefits and were less than or equal to those
first listing the treatments in order of of treatment with lower costs was considered
increasing costs and any treatments that had to have dominated (CIMMYT 1988).
Table 5: Result of partial budget analysis of the effect of NPS blended fertilizer and coffee husk
biochar (BC) on tuber yield and other factors of potato production
Treatment
NPS BC ATY AY GFB CBP CBA CF CFA TVC NB Dominance
0 0 19.9 17.9 125930 0 0 0 0 0 125930 D
4 23.3 20.9 146930 1500 1000 0 0 2500 144430 ND
8 27.5 24.7 173530 3000 1000 0 0 4000 169530 ND
12 31.5 28.1 196910 4500 1000 0 0 5500 191410 ND
121 0 26.6 23.9 167930 0 0 1936 500 2436 165494 D
4 29.1 26.2 183820 1500 2000 1936 500 5936 177884 D
8 30.3 27.3 191240 3000 2000 1936 500 7436 183804 D
12 36.6 32.9 230930 4500 2000 1936 500 8936 221994 ND
242 0 25.2 22.7 159110 0 0 3872 1000 4872 154238 D
4 34.8 31.3 219730 1500 3000 3872 1000 9372 210358 D
8 31.6 28.5 199640 3000 3000 3872 1000 10872 188768 D
12 33.1 29.7 208530 4500 3000 3872 1000 12372 196158 D
363 0 30.9 27.8 194950 0 0 5808 1500 7308 187642 D
4 38.5 34.6 242620 1500 4000 5808 1500 12808 229812 ND
8 47.8 43.0 301420 3000 4000 5808 1500 14308 287112 ND
12 28.8 25.9 181930 4500 4000 5808 1500 15808 166122 D
Where, ATY= average tuber yield (t ha-1 ), AY= adjusted yield (t ha-1), GFB= gross field benefit (ETB ha-1), CBP=
cost of biochar preparation (50 Birr man-day-1), CBA= cost of biochar application (50 Birr man-day-1), CF= cost of
fertilizers(16 Birr kg-1 ) , CFA= cost of fertilizer application (50 Birr man-day-1), TVC= total variable cost (Birr ha-
1
), NB= net benefit (Birr ha-1), D= dominated, ND= non-dominated, 1Ethiopian Birr≈ 0.03USD.
Table 6: Marginal rate of return from NPS fertilizer and coffee husk biochar application for
potato production
Treatment
NPS BC TVC MC NB MNB MRR(%)
0 4 2500 1500 144430 18500 1233.3
0 8 4000 1500 169530 25100 1673.3
0 12 5500 1500 191410 21880 1458.0
121 12 8936 3436 221994 30584 890.1
363 4 12808 3872 229812 7818 201.9
363 8 14308 1500 287112 57300 3820.0

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Potato yield enhancement by combined use of NPS blended

fertilizer and coffee husk biochar and its economic analysis

Department of Plant Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

*Corresponding author email: sanju80gon@gmail.com

Potato is an important vegetable crop 2018). In the other African countries of

Trop. Agric. (Trinidad) Vol. 97 No. 4 October 2020 241

Figure 1: Map of the study area located in the south-western Ethiopia.

Description of experimental materials was laid out in a randomized complete block

Experimental procedure and crop where, SG= Specific gravity (g cm-3);

Days to 50% flowering, days to 90% Data analysis

Table 1: Physico-chemical properties of the experimental site

Phenological variables combined application of 363 kg NPS ha-1+12 t

244 Trop. Agric. (Trinidad) Vol. 97 No. 4 October 2020

Treatment Phenology and growth parameters

The physiological maturity of potato was Growth parameters

Treatment TTN MTN UMTN TTY MTY UMTY ATW

246 Trop. Agric. (Trinidad) Vol. 97 No. 4 October 2020

Trop. Agric. (Trinidad) Vol. 97 No. 4 October 2020 247

Treatment SG DM (%) Tuber size category

Trop. Agric. (Trinidad) Vol. 97 No. 4 October 2020 249

250 Trop. Agric. (Trinidad) Vol. 97 No. 4 October 2020

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252 Trop. Agric. (Trinidad) Vol. 97 No. 4 October 2020

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