Effects of fertilizer types and different companion crops on the performance of sweet potato

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in 2002 and 2003 cropping seasons, at the University of Ibadan Teaching and Research Farm to evaluate the effects of fertilizer types and different companion crops on the performance of sweet potato. The results obtained showed that the growth and yield of sweet potato were significantly influenced by fertilizer types and different companion crops. The significant percentage increases in sweet potato leaf area under fertilizer types were 182, 216 and 336% by inorganic, organic and inorganic +organic fertilizers, respectively. The significant percentage decreases in sweet potato leaf area under different companion crops were 23, 35 and 49% by sweet potato /maize, sweet potato/ cassava and sweet potato/cassava/cocoyam, respectively. The significant percentage increases in the length of sweet potato root tuber under fertilizer types were 15, 25 and 39% by inorganic, organic and inorganic+organic fertilizers, respectively. The significant percentage decreases in the length of sweet potato root tuber under different companion crops were 13 and 23% by sweet potato/ cassava and sweet potato/cassava /cocoyam, respectively. The significant percentage increases in sweet potato root tuber yield under fertilizer types were 27, 47 and 97% by inorganic, organic and inorganic + organic fertilizers, respectively. The significant percentage decreases in root tuber yield of sweet potato under companion crops were 9 and 19% by sweet potato/cassava and sweet potato/cassava/cocoyam, respectively.

Keywords: cassava, cocoyam, fertilizer types, inorganic, organic fertilizer, maize

Moor Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 5(2) 2004: 88-94