Evaluation of Some Selected Botanicals and Pesticides on Diseases of Common Cultivars of Potato in Sub Zoba Hamelmalo, Eritrea

摘要

Potato is one of the most stable vegetable crops in Eritrea; however, the crop is highly attacked by various diseases. In Eritrea, limited research is done before on disease incidence and relative efficacy of chemicals and botanicals on the common potato cultivars. Hence this research aimed to evaluate the most serious diseases; to determine the relative efficacy of two broad spectrum chemicals (Deltamethrin and dimethoate) and two botanicals (Neem Seed Extracts and Tobacco Leaf Extracts) on three potato cultivars (Picasso, Ajiba and Zafira). The Ajiba cultivar was found to be the most susceptible to early blight among the cultivars (46.6% at 40 days and 98.9% at 60 days after planting). Based on the analysis carried out the three cultivars Picasso, Zafira and Ajiba were not significantly different at 5% level of significance at 40 and 60 days after planting for collar rot. Maximum yield was obtained from the Ajiba (29.33 ton/ha) followed by Zafira (27.99 ton/ha). There was no significant difference among the treatment combination of (cultivar x chemical) for the total yield production but the maximum and minimum yield was obtained from the combination effects of Ajiba x Neem extract (35.87 ton/ha) and Picasso x Tobacco leaf extract (16.19 ton/ha) respectively. The highest marketable yield was obtained from the combination effects of Ajiba x Neem extract (33.33 ton/ha). The high unmarketable produce from Ajiba cultivar was due to the high percentage incidences of collar rots and blight fungus. As concerning as Cost-Benefit Ratio, the highest profit was recorded from the combination treatments of Ajiba and neem seed extracts.