Effect of Different Tillage Methods on the Perfomance of Some Cocoyam Varieties in Ultisols of South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Effect of different tillage methods on the performance and yield of some cocoyam varieties was investigated at the research farm of the National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike during the 2006 and 2007 cropping seasons. The two-year trial was a 3 x 6 factorial laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times. Results showed that among the Xanthosoma spp NXs 001 yielded significantly (P<0.05) higher than NXs 002 in terms of total yield. Also NXs 001 performed better in the three tillage methods than NXs 002. Neither tillage nor variety and tillage interactions were significant in 2006. The study, however, revealed that tillage methods did not significantly (P<0.05) influence total yield among Colocassia spp, in 2006. However, NCe 005 performed best in the three tillage methods followed by NCe 006 and NCe 001 in 2007. Concluding from the above results NCe 005 (Colocassisa spp.) and NXs 001 (Xanthosoma spp.) can be established using any of the three methods for cocoyam production.