Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted at National Root Crops Research Institute Otobi, Benue State,
located between 7011’N and 80 10’E during 2019 cropping season to evaluate the effect of three
fertilizer sources on growth and yield of sweet potato variety TIS-8186 (Ipomea batata {L}
Lam). The fertilizer sources used as treatments were: NPK20:10:10 (100, 200 and 300 kg/ha),
Poultry manure (2,5 and 8t/ha), Fertiplus (2, 5 and 8t/ha) and control. The treatments were laid
out in a Randomized Complete block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Vines of sweet
potato TIS-8164 was sourced from National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike, cut into 25
cm long and planted at a spacing of 0.3m (100 cm x 30 cm) inter-row and intra-row respectively
which gave a plant population of 33,333 plants per hectare. All the fertilizer sources significantly
influenced the growth parameters (vine length, plant girth, number of leaves, leaf width) and
yield of sweet potato over the control. The longest vine length (218 cm) at 12 WAP was obtained
from poultry 8t/ha and the least from the control (14.53 cm) at 4 WAP. The longest leaf length
(12.80 cm) was obtained from poultry 8t/ha at 12 WAP and the least (4.67 cm) from the control
at 4 WAP. The broadest leaf width (11.47 cm) was obtained from poultry 8t/ha at 6 WAP and the
least (4.13 cm) from the control at WAP. The highest yield (78.33) in terms of number of
marketable roots was obtained from poultry 5t/ha and the least (21.27) from the control. The
highest weight of marketable root (21.27) in Kg/plot was obtained from poultry manure 5t/ha
and the least (3.67) from the control. Application of 5t/ha of poultry manure is recommended for
soil fertility improvement and root yield of sweet potato in the study area. |
