ABSTRACT

Three field experiments were conducted at Umudike in 2003 and 2004 to investigate the effects of number of nodes (1, 2 ,3 and 4 node cutting) and. intra-row spacing (20, 30 and 40 cm) on growth and yield of sweelpotalo and to dctcirm ii ic lic dIed 1' ho ding period (0. i and 8 clays before planting) and nuniber of nodes on tl c go (Ii and icid of' sweet l)otat variety, T1S87/0087 and also to examine the ciThet oi number of nodes/vines Oil sweetpotato/soybean intercroppmg. All the field experiments were laid out in a randon dzcd complete block design with three replications. The [I rst experiment showed that 3 and 1 node cuttings had higher % emergence at 2WAP while % emergence of I and 2 node cuttiligs increased from 2 to 4WAP. The leaf area index, total plant dry matter and dry matter distribution to plant part (leaf , stem and storage roots) and harvest index increased with age of plant but not beyond 13WAP and also among various node sizes in the order of'4 >3 > 2 1 in most cases. The graded number of storage root, yield increased signiflcantly (I) < 0.0 with increase number of' in des per vine. 'ihere were to significant (tiNe ddlidd5 (P > among average root yield of 17.9, 1 9.7 and 20.2t/lia for 2. 3. and 4 node cuttings respectively compared to the yield of 13 .2t/ha recorded by 1 -node cut I rig in both season. Planting of '.2 node cuttings at narrow spacing of 20cm on the average iu'o,inccd signi Ocanily inure salc;.iblc and total storage root yield than when [)lautedl at wide si aci of. 30 r 40cm but the \'iel was not significantly different from 3 or 4 node cuttings at yarn ins spacing in both seasons. in 2004, the number of weeds and weed hiom nass 'vere more vi Ii I -nude c riO ng conipnicd 2, 3, and 4 node cuttings. On the avernee 2, 3 and 4 nude cti ines produced 5jllli5[ yield and as such, number of nodes could be reduce In 2 to provide inure plaiiiahlc \illd pieces ii; tinn of scarcity of planting material. lliccoiid d5iIlOi1i iniicated that dlncrnIcV increased significantly with number of nodes per vine and with holding period of up to 8 days before planting (DBP) at 2 and 4 WAP. The number E marketable and total storage root yield increased with increase in number of node cuttings up to 4 nodes per cutting. Holding the planting materials beyond 4 DBP depressed storage ioot yield. The third experiment indicated that sole crop yield in most cases \VCFC higher tlini intercrop yield. However, yield advantages accrued (Inc to ultcrcroppi n, sweet o1ate ptopiiil 5iZCS uin soybeans. On the basis of land equivalent ratio (L[K) and ilel relurils, the higlics I ycld advantage and economic returns were obtained with 3 node cuttings of sweetpotato i ntercropped with soybeans.