EFFECT OF FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas L.) AT FARMERS’ FIELD OF BOGRA IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

In Bangladesh sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is one of the important vegetables not only for its high market demand but also its high nutritious value. Present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of fertilizers on the yield of sweet potato at farmer’s level in Bogura, Bangladesh. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Complete Block Design with twelve treatment combinations of four varieties (V 1 : Annou Beni, V 2 : Annou Kougane, V 3 : Kokei and V 4 : BARI Misty Alu-12) and three fertilizer application (T 0 : No chemical fertilizer and no compost, T 1 : BARI fertilizer dose, and T 2 : Maruhisa dose (Chemical fertilizer + improved compost)) replicated thrice. The results of the study showed that V 4 variety and T 2 fertilizer dose had significant effect on growth and yield parameters. Vine length, leaf number per plant and branch per plant were higher in V 4 variety (vine length 23.91cm, leaf number per plant 27.33 and number of branches per plant 6.77 respectively) and in T 2 fertilizer application, and V 4 T 2 treatment. The highest vine length, number of leaf and number of branches per plant were shown during 100 days in V 4 T 2 treatment. The result indicates that V 2 T 2 produced highest tuber length (16.67cm). The result also indicated that V 4 T 2 (V 4 variety treated with T 2 fertilizer) produced significantly highest tuber diameter (20.13) and V 3 T 2 shows highest tuber weight (1.19 kg) per plant and tuber yield of 18.61 t/ha. The yield analysis result revealed that maximum yield of sweet potato was obtained from the application of T 2 fertilizer on V 3 variety than other varieties. Considering the above all fact, it appears that using T 2 : Maruhisa fertilizer and V 3 (Khokei) had a positive impact on growth and tuber yield of sweet potato.