EFFECTS OF FERTILIZER TYPES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas L.) UNDER URBAN AND CONVENTIONAL FARMING CONDITIONS IN OGBOMOSO.

Abstract

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) is a creeping annual crop plant commonly cultivated for its edible tuber. It is a versatile crop well known for its dietary, medicinal, industrial and socio-cultural values. However, Intensification of land use particularly for buildings, construction and other infrastructure advancement in the urban centers had been reported to enhance unavailability of suitable hectarages of lands and rapid depletion of soil nutrients.As a result of these unpleasant conditions, devising organic means of maximizing, managing the available soil resources in the urban areas for dependable crop production is crucial. This experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farms, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo state. Soil samples were collected at 0–30cm soil depth. The composite sample was taken and air dried, crushed and sieved through 2 mm and 0.5 mm sieves. Sweet potato vines measuring 25cm were planted concurrently both on the field and designated cement sacks containing 30kg soil each. Six fertilizer treatments tested were; T0= Control, T1=Tithonia compost, T2= Composted Household wastes, T3= Rabbit droppings, T4= Poultry manure, T5= Cow dung applied at 4tons/ha. For the field experiment, one plot per treatment was used with treatments laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), replicated thrice. Two pots per treatment was used for the pot experiment. The treatments were arranged in Complete Randomized Design (CRD), replicated three (3) times. Application of different fertilizers significantly enhanced growth, and yield of sweet potato, compared to the control in both field and pot experiment. Therefore, the study recommends that application of any of the organic source fertilizers such as Tithonia, Rabbit droppings, household wastes, poultry manure and cow dung improves the growth and yield of sweet potato in the study area.