Effect of Presprouting Plant Growth Regulators and Natural Materials on Dormancy, Growth, and Yield of Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Irish potatoes are amongst the most highly grown and demanded crops in Kenya for food, industrial starch, animal feed. Farmers, however, face a serious challenge regarding timely availability of well-sprouted seed potato tubers due to physiological dormancy period 2–3 months, thereby reducing production cycles. This study determined effects different chitting methods on enhancing presprouting varieties Kenya. Plant growth regulators (PGR) (Gibberellins (GA3), 6-Benzylaminopurine, Zeatin) natural materials (grass, banana leaves, soil) were evaluated their breaking stimulating sprouts under greenhouse conditions complete randomized design (CRD) with three replicates. The evaluation presprouted field was conducted at Egerton University Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Molo, split-plot two seasons. Data taken crop emergence, length, thickness, colour sprouts, plant height, per plant, tuber yield. subjected general linear model partition variance component using SAS software version 9.13, means separated least significant difference ( p ≤ 0.05 ). There id="M2"> ) main prespouting time, growth, yield tubers. interaction variety treatment also id="M3"> sprout thickness. Natural produced vigorous increased superior PGRs size chitted by 261% 103%, respectively. Control treatments had significantly higher frequency small-sized than PGRs, proving importance increasing yields. quality (thickness length) better PRGs control treatments. showed that small-holder farmers could adopt use readily available soil, grass, leaves while large-scale growers, access facilities, break