Abstract:
This investigation was undertaken at the Experimental Farm of the
College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and
Technology at Shambat. The area lies at Latitude 15°40´N and Longitude
32°32´E and 280 m. above sea level. The objective of the study is to
evaluate four Dutch potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties namely;
Kuroda, Almera, Provento and Alpha and to study the effect of repeated
earthing-up on productivity of potato tubers of the same varieties. The
varieties Kuroda, Almera, Provento and Alpha and earthing-up (once and
twice earthing-up) were combined in a factorial experiment, using a
randomized complete block design with four blocks. Parameters
measured in the experiment included emergence, growth estimation
during growing season, yield and yield components and tuber dry matter
content. The results showed significant variation in emergence time, with
varieties Kuroda, Almera and Provento emerged earlier than variety
Alpha. Varieties Provento and Almera, exhibited higher number of stems
per plant and number of tubers per plant. The results also revealed
significant variations in tuber number and tuber yield (ton/ha) among
potato varieties. Varieties Provento and Almera produced larger number
of tubers/m2, while varieties Kuroda and Almera recorded higher yield.
Alpha had the highest tuber dry matter. Varieties Kuroda and Almera
earthed twice produced larger number of tubers/m2, and higher yield
(ton/ha) than the varieties earthed once.