SUMMARYSeed yam production potential of three yam species (Dioscorea rotundata, Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea cayenensis) was assessed for two systems – the traditional method using 100 to 200 g setts, and the mini-sett technique using 25, 20, 15 and 10 g setts cut from mother tubers. The mini-sett technique required only 6–33% of the number of tubers needed for the traditional planting system, and resulted in plants superior to those produced by the traditional method in all their production attributes especially in the case of D. alata and D. rotundata.

Stage‐to‐stage changes in leaf percentage, crude protein concentration and in vitro true disgestibility of alfalfa herbage materials of the same age and common harvest dates across there different growing season were determined. Leafiness decreased with advancing crop maturity. Herbage leaf content was closely associated with the total herbage C P and IVTD. When leaf percentage was regressed on quality measures of C P and IVTD, the regression analysis provided highly significant linear relationship for CP(r2= 0.823), IVTD (r2= 0.854) for alfalfa crop diverse in stand and canopy ages, stages of maturity and across locations and seasons of the year. These relationships indicated practical applicability of the use of crop leafiness for predicting the herbage quality.