Performance of water yam clones as influenced by N, P and K and staking at Samaru, Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria

Abstract

Performance of water yam (Dioscorea alata) clones as influenced by NPK fertilizer rates and staking was tested. The experiment consisted of three NPK fertilizer rates (0-0-0, 50-25-25 and 100-50-50 kg NPK ha^-1) and two staking (staking and no-staking). The treatments were arranged using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. A yam set weighing 150g was planted at 1 m apart on the crest of a ridge. NPK 15:15:15 Fertilizer was applied in two split doses at planting to supply the first half of N and whole of P and K while the remaining half of N was applied 6 weeks after sowing (WAS) using Urea (46% N). Weeds were controlled using Pendilin as pre-emergence herbicide applied at the rate of 4 litres ha^-1 and was supplemented with hoe weeding at 6 and 9 WAS. Data collected on tagged plants were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means with significant differences were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of significance. The result showed that increasing NPK fertilizer rate on water yam from the control to 50-25-25 significantly (P<0.05) enhanced all the growth and yield parameters assessed in 2011 and 2012 seasons, respectively. However, increase to 100-50-50 kg NPK ha^-1significantly reduced the parameters. Staking water yam significantly increases all the growth and yield parameters assessed with the exception of days to 50% sprouting which responded better to no staking. We therefore, recommend the application of NPK fertilizer (15-15-15 grade) at the rate of 50-25-25 kg NPK ha^-1 and use of staking for the production of water yam in Samaru, northern Guinea savanna agro-ecological zone of Nigeria.