EFfects ob’ progressive edible le a f h nd tuber removal on yield and development of two d : j ..«. I J J purpose sweet pot a to (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) cultivars

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Date

1986

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Volume Title

Publisher

Sokoine Univesirty of Agricuture

Abstract

Two dual purpose sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lain.) cultivars "Bangi" and "Simama" differing in shoot morphology were subjected to differential leaf and tuber harvest combination under field conditions at Morogoro. The aim was to find out the effect of leaf and tuber harvesting combinations on tuberous and edible leaf yield, plant development and the adaptability of the cultivars to two tuber harvesting methods. Either edible leaves, edible tubers or both leaves and tubers were progressively removed. The control treatment consisted of a single final tuber harvesting without leaf or tuber removal. Leaf and tuber harvesting treatments were imposed monthly commencing at 77 and 99 days from planting respectively. Sample plants for the determination of dry matter distribution with time in leaves, stems and roots were taken three times at monthly intervals starting at 75 days from planting. The erectophile cv '’Simama" gave a significantly higher total yield (4.4 t/ha) and fresh edible leaves (1.09 t/ha) over the procumbent cv '’Bangi”. In cv "Bangi'’ progressive removal of both leaves and tubers gave 2.6 t/ha tubers above control and 0.6 t/ha above(iv) control where only tubers were progressively harvested. Progressive removal of leaves in cv "Bangi” had 2.4 t/ha below control. In cv "Simama” progressive harvesting of both tubers and leaves gave 1.8 t/ha fresh tubers above control and 1.5 t/ha above control where only tubers were progressively removed. Where only leaves were progressively (harvested, tuber yields were 0.6 t/ha above control. Progressive harvesting of both tubers and leaves yielded 3.1 t/ha fresh tubers more in cv "Simama” than cv "Bangi" and 1.04 t/ha fresh edible leaves. P.emoval of leaves resulted in an increase of 6.9 t/ha fresh tubers and 1.4 t/ha edible leaves in cv ’’Simama’’ over cv ’’Bangi”. In plants where only tubers were removed cv "Simama” had 3.6 t/ha over cv ’’Bangi". The progressive method of tuber harvesting had an overall higher tuberous yield compared to single method but the number of pig tubers was high. During the first 10 weeks of growth, per cent dry matter distribution in leaves was about 50 of the total plant dry matter in all the treatments. But 15 weeks later dry matter in roots had increased to an average of 34.1 per cent. Nineteen weeks after planting the proportion of dry matter in roots was significantly(V) higher than that in leaves or stem. Final dry matter distribution in roots was higher in the treatments whose tubers were harvested once in both cultivars. Leaf picking affected the performance of cv "Bangi" but not cv "Simama”. Combination of progressive removal of both leaves and tubers gave highest fresh tuber yield in both cultivars. Sink rather than source seem to be more important in sweet potato yield, but the performance of the two cultivars showed that a good source is also important.

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Dissertation

Keywords

EFfects ob’, progressive, edible le a f hnd, tuber removal, development, two d : j ..«. I J J purpose, sweet pot a, (Ipomoea batatas (L.), Lam.) cultivars

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