Growth and yield response of sweet potato to different tillage methods and phosphorus fertilizer rates in Ghana

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the major cropping season of 2014 at the Plantation Section of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana to evaluate the effect of tillage and different application rates of phosphorus fertilizer on the growth and yield of sweet potato variety Okumkom. The tillage methods are ridge & mound while the different rates of phosphorus fertilizers are 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg P2O5/ha in triple superphosphate (46% P2O5) form. Factorial experiment was used and treatments were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. All the treatments were supplemented by 30 kg N/ha in the form of Urea (46% N). Results of this study indicated that plant growth was not significantly affected by tillage, but root yield was affected significantly with ridging produced the highest root yield. Further, highest growth and yield was observed from the 60 kg P2O5/ha treatment.