Impact of Organic Soil Amendments on the Physical Characteristics and Yield Components of Potato （Solanum tuberosurn L.） in the Highlands of Cameroon

A field experiment was conducted in the Western Highlands of Cameroon to study the effects of Calliandra calothyrsus, sterilized compost, non-sterilized compost and mineral fertilizers （NPK 11：11：22） on physical characteristics, yield components and late blight disease severity of potato （Solanum tuberosum）. A two factorial treatment combination made up of fertilization schemes and sanitary measures were laid out in a randomized complete block design （RCBD） with four replicates and 10 treatments. Data collected were subjected to a multivariate ANOVA and means separated with the Dunnett t-test with Calliandra calothyrsus considered as the main treatment. Mineral fertilizers and Calliandra calothyrsus significantly augmented stem diameter, plant height and plant vigor, total and marketable yields, despite the fact that late blight severity was high in the two treatments. The correlation matrix showed that total yield had significant and positive correlation with stem diameter （r = 0.74）, plant height （r = 0.61）