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Predictive assessment of leaf and shoot yields in Bungu (Ceratotheca sesamoides Endl.) and black sesame (Sesamoides radiatum l.)
Abstract
Measured values of components of yield in two mucilaginous leaf vegetables, bungu (Ceratotheca sesamoides Endl.) and black sesame (Sesamum radiatum L.) were integrated into simple and multiple linear regression equations as means of predicting leaf and shoot yields in the two crop species. Analysis of two years' results indicated that generally negligible differences were observed between predicted and measured leaf and shoot yields, using leaf area index alone or combined with other components of yield as predictor variables. The contribution of leaf area index alone to leaf yield was 96 - 98%, and to shoot yield, about 92%. It could be inferred from the results that, armed with measured values of leaf area index, fairly accurate estimates of leaf and shoot yields in a bungu or black sesame crop could be predicted ahead of harvest.
Keywords: Best-fit model yields, Components, Predictor variable, Response variable.