RESPONSE OF ENSETE (ENSETE-VENTRICOSUM W) TO MINERAL FERTILIZERS IN SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Ensete (Ensete ventricosum W. Cheesm.) is a root crop which stores sta rch in the root and in the lower part of the stem. It is grown in the southwest of Ethiopia and due to its drought resistance, it is of outs tanding importance for the supply of food to the local population. Unt il now virtually nothing is known about the response of Ensete to fert ilizer application. Field trials carried out on three representative s oils in Ethiopia showed that Ensete biomass yields were increased sign ificantly on all three soils by nitrogen and phosphorus application. P otassium had only marginal effect on biomass growth but favourably inf luenced starch production. Sulfate application had no major impact on growth and starch yield. The yield response was well related to the le vel of available nutrients in the soil, as determined by electroultraf iltration (EUF). Leaf analysis-provided preliminary evidence that opti mum levels of N, P, and K may be 3.8%, 0.3%, and 4.8%, respectively.