Abstract:
In Ethiopia, particularly at Mesqan Woreda appropriate fertilizer management was the major problem accounted
for low productivity of garlic. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted with the objective to investigate the
effect of nitrogen and phosphorus levels on growth and bulb yield of two garlic varieties at Beressa watershed,
Mesqan Woreda, South Central Ethiopia under supplemental irrigation from November to April 2010 to 2011.
The treatments consisted of two garlic varieties Local (farmers’ variety) and Tsedey92 (G-493), 4 levels of
Nitrogen (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N/ha) and 3 levels of Phosphorus (0, 50 and 100 kg P2O5 ha-1
) arranged in
randomized complete block design. Data on growth and bulb yield were collected. Varieties differed
significantly on plant height, leaf area index, shoot dry weight and bulb yield. Nitrogen significantly affected
bulb yield along with all the growth parameters. Phosphorus had significant influence on number of leaf per
plant and bulb yield. Number of leaf per plant and bulb yield were significantly affected by the interaction of N
and P. The highest bulb yield of 3.34 t/ha was achieved at 100 kg N + 100 kg P2O5/ha, and was 244% higher than
the control and statistically similar to the yield of 3.27 t/ha obtained from 100 kg N and 50 kg/ha P2O5 application
for variety Tsedey92. Hence, it may be tentatively concluded that the farmers at Beressa watershed should
apply 100 kg N and 50 kg P2O5 /ha using variety Tsedey92 to improve bulb yield of garlic.