RESIDUAL EFFECTS OF INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ON PERFORMANCE OF SWEET POTATO (IPOMOEA BATATAS (L.) LAM) VARIETIES IN SOUTHERN GUINEA SANANNAH OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The Field experiment was carried out in 2020 cropping seasons at the Research Farm of Federal University of Technology Minna to assess the residual effects of integrated   nutrient management on the performance of sweet potato varieties as well as their residual effects on soil properties. Treatments consisted of factorial combinations with two varieties of sweet potato (Butter milk and Umuspo1) laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The results showed that there was no statistical difference on the establishment count of two sweet potato varieties at 2 and 4 WAP. However, statistical significant difference was recorded in control with lowest establishment count at 2 and 4 WAP respectively. Also, there was no significant difference in vine length between the treatments at 4, 6,8,10 WAP respectively, except in control which recorded lowest vine length. There was significant difference in number of leaves at 4 and 6 WAP between the treatments and varieties, but no significance difference was observed at 8 and 10 WAP. Significant difference was observed in number of branches at 4, 6, 8, and 10 WAP between the treatments and varieties. The results showed that the application of 200 kg ha^-1 NPK + 1.5 t ha ^-1 PM recorded highest number of tubers and highest tuber yield. It therefore recommended that farmers in this agro-ecological zone should apply 200 kg ha^-1 NPK + 1.5 t ha ^-1 PM for high yield of sweet potatoes.