Browsing by Author "Nwankwo, Uchenna MaryJane"

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    Effect of manure sources and propagule node number on the productivity of orange-fleshed sweet potato (ipomoea batatas l) in Owerri, Nigeria
    (Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2021-05) Nwankwo, Uchenna MaryJane
    The effects of Manure sources and propagule node number on the productivity of orange fleshed sweet potato (king-J) was investigated at the Teaching and Research Farm of Federal University of Technology, Owerri Nigeria in 2016 and 2017 planting seasons respectively. Three (3) vine nodes: 2, 4 and 6 as well as three (3) sources of manure: 0 (control), poultry manure 10 t ha-1and NPK 15:15:15 400 kg ha-1 respectively were combined in a 3 x 3 factorial experiment fitted into Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) giving a total of 9 treatment combinations replicated 3 times and it gave 27 treatment plots. Data on soil at the beginning and at the end of each of the experiments were collected and analyzed. Data on the growth and yield parameters of sweet potato were also collected and statistically analyzed using Genstart software. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of probability was used to test treatment effect. The result showed that the study site was slightly acidic (PH 4.99 and 5.19) and low in nitrogen (0.13 and 0.12) in 2016 and 2017. At the end of the experiment the acidity was raised from 4.99 to 5.72, and 5.19 to 6.22 in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Result of the investigation revealed that manure sources were statistically significant on sweet potato vine length, branch formation, leaf production, leafspot and bacterial blight disease severity as well as yield in kg ha-1 at 5% probability level in 2016 and 2017 planting seasons respectively. Propagule with 4 nodes applied with 400kg ha-1 NPK had the longest vines 100.40cm and 109.40cm, the highest number of leaves 104,30, 134.90, number of branches 9.00, 12.00, as well as lowest leaf spot and bacteria blight disease severity 1.15, 1.48; 1.19, 1.49 in 2016 and 2017 planting season respectively. However interaction of propagule with 4 nodes and 10 t ha-1 poultry manure produced the highest total fresh tuber yield 29.79 t ha-1 and 38.79 t ha-1 in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Sweet potato production is a good and profitable enterprise. For successful sweet potato production in Owerri Nigeria, the following recommended practices are made; Farmers can adopt the use of propagule with 4 nodes for high growth and yield of sweet potato. However further studies is recommended.