Yield and quality of sweet potato as affected by number of nodes buried and potash fertilizers
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Date
2014
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Publisher
Sokoine Univesity of Agricuture
Abstract
A study was conducted from January 2013 to June 2013 at Hombolo Agricultural
Research Institute in Dodoma, Central Tanzania. The aims were to evaluate response
of three sweet potato varieties in productivity and quality to four levels of nodes
buried and three potash fertilizer sources. A Split-split plot designs was employed
and treatments were applied. Main plot were three sweet potato varieties, Kiegeya,
Mataya, and Ukerewe. Sub plot were, nodes burring levels: four buried nodes, (two
above ground), five buried nodes (three above ground), seven buried nodes (three
above ground) and eight buried nodes (four above ground). The sub - subplot
treatments were potash fertilizer sources: Control no fertilizer used, Potassium
chloride (KC1), Potassium nitrogen phosphate (NPK) and Farm yard manure (FYM).
Results indicated total yield were not affected by varieties planted. There were
significant differences among number of nodes on the total yield, the lowest total
yield (11.68 t ha'1) was from four buried nodes whereas the highest yield of (15.91
t ha'1) was from eight buried nodes. The application of fertilizers at the rate 120 kg
ha'1 significantly influenced the yield components (P <0.05). The lowest number of
tuber roots (2.81) was from control treatment while the highest number of tuber roots
(6.03) was from KC1 treatment. The indicators of tuberous root quality such as
diameter (4.81 cm), length (19.03 cm) and weight (0.42 kg plant'1) were from KCL
The total tuber roots yield (18.84 t ha'1) from KC1, (17.51 t ha’1) from NPK, (11.33
t ha'1) from FYM and (8.82 t ha'1) with control treatment. Seven and eight buried
nodes with KC1 and NPK fertilizers appeared appropriate for optimum sweet potato
growth, yield and tuberous root quality in the study area and are therefore
recommended.
Description
Keywords
Quality fertilizers, Sweet potato affected