Abstract:
Productivity of garlic in Guna Begiemidir district is constrained by inappropriate agronomic practice such as fertilizer rate and type, plant spacing, absence of improved variety and pests.
Therefore a field experiment was conducted in Aydie kebele of Guna Begiemidir district, South Gonder Zone, Ethiopia with the objective of enhancing production and productivity of garlic using appropriate rate of NPS fertilizer and optimum intra row spacing. The treatments consisted of four levels of NPS fertilizer (0, 121, 242 and 363 kg ha-1) and three levels of intra row spacing (5, 10, 15 cm) in factorial combination in RCBD with three replications. The results revealed that intra row spacing had significant effect on all tested parameters whereas, NPS fertilizer had significant effect on leaf width, number of leaves, above ground biomass, bulb neck diameter, clove weight, number of cloves, marketable yield and total yield of garlic. However interaction effect of NPS fertilizer and intra row spacing significantly affected only bulb width and unmarketable yield of garlic. The highest marketable yield of 15.5 and 15.88 t ha-1were obtained when garlic grown with 15 cm intra row spacing and 242 kg ha-1 NPS feretilizer application, respectively. The highest total yield of 28.01 and 23.16 t ha-1 were obtained when garlic plants were grown with 5 cm intra row spacing and 242kg ha-1 NPS fertilizer application, respectively. Based on the partial budget analysis the highest marginal rate of return (8468.365%) were obtained from plants supplied with 363 followed by 242 kg ha-1 NPS fertilizer. The highest net benefit of 1,117,332 Birr was generated with the application 15 cm intra row spacing. Based on the biological yield and economic analysis the current study identified that intra row spacing of 15 cm and 242 kg NPS fertilizer ha-1 were superior. Therefore, these treatment applications were recommended for garlic production in Guna Begiemidir district of South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. Since the results are limited to one season and location, it is also advised to repeat the study in different locations and seasons in the study area.
Key word: NPS fertilizer rates, intra row spacing, garlic (Allium sativum L.) yield