Effects of NPK (15:15:15) Fertilizer on Growth and Yield of Guinea white yam (Dioscorea?rotundata?Poir) Genotypes in Uyo South-South Nigeria

摘要

A study was conducted to assess the effects of 400kg/ha of NPK fertilizer (15:15:15) on some growth and yield parameters of?Dioscorea rotundata?(white yam). The experiment was laid out using a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Four genotype of?D. rotundata?(TDr 98/01164, TDr 96/01168, TDr 96/00060 and local variety were used for the experiment and the parameters measured were number of leaves per plant, vine length, leaf area and total yield (t/ha). The results showed that fertilizer treatment had a significant (P<0.05) effects on the growth and yield on the parameters studied and that the genotypes responded differently to the treatments. TDr 98/01164 recorded highest number of leaves (11.02, 80.56, 110.02 and 177.19 at 1, 2, 3 and 4 MAS, respectively) while the least was recorded for the local genotype (10.69, 53.62, 130.41 and 175.40 at 1, 2, 3 and 4 MAS. Similarly, TDr 98/01164 recorded highest vine length of 105.26, 168.24, 186.98 and 198.02cm at 1, 2, 3 and 4 MAS respectively, while TDr 96/01168 recorded 68.92, 92.40, 182.24 and 187.94 at 1, 2, 3 and 4 MAS, respectively. Also, the largest leaf area was recorded for TDr 98/01164 (44.11, 50.90 and 66.33 at 1, 2, 3 and 4 MAS respectively whereas the local genotype recorded the least leaf area (30.05, 31.51, 34.99 and 37.21 at 1, 2, 3 and 4 MAS respectively. TDr 96/011799, TDr 96/01168, TDr 98/01164 and local genotype recorded tuber yields of 15.45, 15.21, 13.98 and 7.60t/ha, respectively at 4 MAS. Generally, fertilizer application significantly stimulated growth and improved yield of the genotypes. TDr 96/011799 and TDr 96/01168 could be recommended to local and commercial farmers.