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Growth and yield response of sweetpotato varieties to date of vine cutting in the humid tropics of Umudike, Southeast Nigeria
Abstract
Two field trials were conducted in 2014 and 2015 at National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Nigeria to assess growth performance and yield responses of two orange-fleshed sweetpotato varieties (Umuspo 1, Umuspo 3) and one white-fleshed land-race (Ex-Igbariam), variety to date of initial cutting of vine (0, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after planting). The trial treatment combinations were laid out as a 3 x 4 factorial fitted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that vine cuttings, irrespective of date of initial cutting of vine, produced significantly higher number of branches/plant, leaf area index and vine multiplication ratio. Highest significant (P<0.05) reduction in weed growth and highest storage root weight per plant and root yield were obtained under no cutting of vine treatment in both years compared to the other varieties. Umuspo 1 had more branches, higher leaf area index, shoot biomass, multiplication ratio, number of storage roots and root yield as well as suppressed weeds more relative to the other varieties. However, Umuspo 3 produced the highest amount of carotene content in its storage root flesh while ExIgbariam had the lowest carotene content.
Keywords: Orange-fleshed, root yield, shoot multiplication ratio, and variety
