Open AccessResponse of yam varieties to soil moisture regime in Southwestern Nigeria
Author(s) -
A. O. Eruola
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
italian journal of agrometeorology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2038-5625
DOI - 10.36253/ijam-1324
Subject(s) - sowing , mulch , yield (engineering) , phenology , moisture , evapotranspiration , agronomy , mathematics , horticulture , water content , eragrostis , biology , chemistry , materials science , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , metallurgy , engineering , ecology
A field experiment was conducted on varietal response of white yam to moisture regime in Abeokuta. The experiment comprised three varieties of yam (Efuru, Ise-osi and Oniyere), three mulching options (grass, polythene and unmulched), and two planting dates (early and late). Treatments were replicated three times using RCBD lay-out. Model for selecting planting date involved relating potential evapotranspiration (PE) to precipitation (P) in the form of 0.1PE PE, the physiological parameters and moisture agro-climatic indices measured during phenological stages of yam grown were analyzed with respect to treatments. Result showed that T1 defined as Σ(P-0.1PE) ≤ 10 mm appeared as the best model that significantly (P < 0.05) influenced emergence rate, phenological growth and tuber yield. All yam varieties evaluated were suitable for planting with respect to yield. Efuru and Ise-osi synchronized perfectly with Actual Water Availability and produced good vegetative growth with LAI of 1.08 and 0.91 leading to higher tuber yield of 12 and 11.64 tonnes ha-1, respectively. Grass mulch had tuber yield, 4-6 tonnes ha-1greater than the polythene and unmulched plots in all varieties. Mulching significantly (P< 0.05) increased tuber yield, 6-8 tonnes ha-1than the unmulched. Conclusively, early planting with grass mulch increased tuber yield.