2025/10/27 by Maduanusi, O. E., Anyaegbu, P. O., Ilozobhie, N. E. +3
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Agricultural Research and Practices #Potato Plant Research #Plant Growth and Agriculture Techniques
paper · doi:10.82552/njhs.v29i4.112-122
Sweet potatoes are nutrient-rich, offering numerous health benefits. Two field trials were conducted at the University of Abuja's Teaching and Research Farm during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons to investigate the effects of NPK 20:10:10 and NPK 15:15:15 fertilisers and suffocants on sweet potato growth, yield, and Cylas weevil management. The experiment utilised a 3 x 3 factorial design in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 27 plots. Data collected include vine length, leaf area, root yield, biomass yield, and other growth and yield parameters of sweet potatoes. The results revealed that NPK fertilisers significantly (p≤0.05) enhanced sweet potato growth and yield, with NPK 20:10:10 outperforming NPK 15:15:15 in both seasons. Suffocants had no significant impact on vegetative growth and root production. The findings suggest NPK 20:10:10 may be a more effective fertiliser for sweet potato production due to its consistent performance. However, plots treated with Alligator pepper powder showed reduced weevil infestation compared to those treated with Ginger Powder and the control, suggesting its potential effectiveness in managing Cylas weevil infestations. NPK fertilisers did not affect the number of roots or marketable roots, implying their benefits relate to overall yield rather than specific yield components. The study found that NPK 20:10:10 fertiliser and Alligator pepper powder were effective in improving sweet potato yields and managing weevil infestation, respectively. Based on the research findings, farmers in FCT are recommended to apply NPK 20:10:10 at 200kg/ha with Alligator pepper powder at 120-150kg/ha for optimum sweet potato production.