Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
J. Anim. Plant Sci. [ISSN 2071 - 7024]
Volume 20(3): 3193 - 3201. Published February, 2014.

Influence of Pinching Back on the Growth and Yield Parameters of Sweet Potato Varieties in Southeastern Nigeria

Aniekwe, NL.
Department of Crop Production and Landscape Management, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, 480001, (longinusaniekwe@gmail.com)

Keywords: Pinching back, Sweet potato, Tuber yield, Pruning weight, Pruning time

1 SUMMARY
The influence of pinching back on the growth and yield parameters of two varieties of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) bred by International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria, was studied. The objective of this paper was therefore, to determine the effects of four pruning activities in a 4x2 factorial experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design in four replications. The four pruning times consisted of [zero pruning (0), 4, 8 and 12 weeks after planting (WAP)] on two sweet potato varieties [TIS 87/0087 (pink fleshed) and TIS 2498 (cream fleshed)]. Pinching back as early as 4WAP significantly (p=0.05) reduced the growth and yield parameters, but these were improved significantly later. The root tuber yield at 0WAP (5.06kg/plant) was >12WAP (4.58kg/plant) >8WAP (3.92kg/plant) >4WAP (3.73kg/plant). The coefficient of variation in variety TIS 87/0087 was significantly (p=0.05) >TIS 2498 in vine length/plant (7.61%), number of leaves/plant (14.95%), fresh pruning weight/plant (42.60%) and the root tuber weight/plant (64.58%).

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