Effect of Substrates, Planting Period, Explants Nodal Level and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Sweetpotato Vine Cutting Production in Soil and Soilless Systems

Abstract

In West Africa, little attention has been given to the rapid propagation of sweet potato with much dependence on the use of tuber part as seed. This study thus investigated the propagation and establishment of a different number of nodal segments of sweet potato vines in soil and soilless system under the influence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF). Cut vines (double and single nodal explants) from growing sweet potato plants were planted in the following substrates; Topsoil, Cocopeat, and Cocopeat + 5 g AMF (4 kg each fertigated with 250 g poultry manure). The experiment was conducted twice (March to July and August to December 2021). The experiment was a 2 (nodal explants) x 3 (substrates) x 2 (periods) factorial arranged in a completely randomized design with three replicates. The agronomic and yield parameters were collected and analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of significance. At 4 Weeks after Planting (WAP), the number of new leaves produced by the nodal explants was insignificant. At 8 WAP, the number of nodes produced differed significantly among substrates and ranged from 17.67±0.42 (cocopeat) to 20.17±0.42 (cocopeat+5g AMF). Number of tubers produced differed significantly between planting periods and ranged from 3.28±0.41 (March to July) to 5.06±0.41 (August to December). For efficient vine rooting, planting of single node vines of sweetpotato in cocopeat substrate fertigated with poultry manure and AMF between the August to December period of the year is thus recommended.

Keywords

• Sweet potato,
• Cocopeat substrate,
• Soil Farming,
• Vine cutting,
• Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

References

1. Akpeji, S. C., Ossai, C. O. & Oroghe, O. E. (2021). Poultry manure and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi remediation of sodium chloride induced substrate salinity for Pepper production. Journal of Current Opinion in Crop Science, 2(3): 363-368.
2. Balogun, M. O. & Gueye, B. (2013). Status and prospects of biotechnology applications to conservation, propagation and genetic improvement of yam. In: Kishan Gopal Ramawat and Jean-Michel Merillon (eds). Bulbous Plants: Biotechnology. CRC Press. Pp. 92-112.
3. Bunn, R. A., Simpson, D. T., Bullington, L. S., Lekberg, Y. & Janos, D. P. (2019). Revisiting the ‘direct mineral cycling’ hypothesis: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonize leaf litter, but why?. The ISME Journal 13:1891-1898.
4. Dumbuya, G., Sarkodie-Addo, J., Daramy, M. A. & Jalloh, M. (2017). Effect of Vine Cutting Length and Potassium Fertilizer Rates on Sweet Potato Growth and Yield Components. International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry 7(4): 88-94.
5. Egbe, O. M. (2012). “Relative Performance of Three Sweet Potato Varieties in Sole and Intercrop Systems in Southern Guinea Savanna Ecology of Nigeria.” Global Journal of Science Frontier Resources in Agriculture and Biology, 12(3): 37-43.
6. Essilfie, M. E., Dapaah, H. K., Tevor, J. W. & Darkwa, K. (2016). Number of Nodes and Part of Vine Cutting Effect on the Growth and Yield of Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) in Transitional Zone of Ghana. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, 9(5):1-14.
7. Kipkorir, N. 2016. “Sweet Potato Production in Kenya.” Accessed April 14, 2016. http://nicklykipkorir.blogspot.co.ke/2016/04/sweet-potato -production-in-kenya.html.
8. Maboko, M. M. & Du Plooy, C. P. (2009). Comparative performance of tomato cultivars in soilless vs. in soil production system. Acta Horticulturae, 843:319-326.

9. Magagula, N.E.M., Ossom, E.M., Rhykerd, R.L. & Rhykerd, C.L. (2010).Effects of chicken manure on soil properties under sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L). Lam.] culture in Swaziland. American-Eurasian Journal of Agronomy 3(2):36-43.
10. Maroya, N., Balogun, M., Asiedu, R., Aighewi, B., Kumar, P. L. & Augusto, J. (2014). Yam Propagation Using Aeroponics Technology. Annual Research and Review in Biology 4(24):3894-3903.
11. Nair, E. M. (2006). Agro-techniques and planting material production in sweet potato. In: Byju, G. (Ed.) Quality planting material production in tropical tuber crops. Central tuber crops research institute. Thiruvamanthapuram, India. Pp55-58.
12. Nedunchezhiyan, M., Byju, G. & Jata, S. K. (2012). Sweet potato agronomy, fruit, vegetable and cereal science and biotechnology. Global Science Books. Pp1-10
13. Ossai, C. O., Ogbole, S., Balogun, M. O. & Akpeji, S. C. (2020). Production of Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) in Nigeria Using the Hydroponics System. Journal of Environmental and Agricultural Studies 1(2):6-9.