"Effects of Different Fertilizers on the Yield and Yield Attributing Parameters of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea Batatas L.) in the Eastern Midhill of Nepal"

Abstract

Sweet potato is one of the major root crops contributing to food security in Nepal. However, its production may vary based on our different fertilizer sources. A field experiment was conducted in Pakhribas, Dhankuta, Nepal, from July to November 2021 to study the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the yield and yield-attributing parameters of the sweet potato. The experiment was set up in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments and four replications. The treatments were named T1: NPK, T2: Ash, T3: Titepati, T4: Vermicompost, and T5: Mycorrhiza respectively. One-month-old, uniform, and healthy vines of about 10 cm in length with three nodes of local landrace (white-colored) were selected as the planting material with a spacing of 60 X 30 cm 2 . The number of vines per plant, vine length, number of leaves, leaf chlorophyll content, and yield were studied at different times after planting. Data analysis was done using Microsoft Excel and R-Studio. Results of the study showed that the number of vines at both 30 and 60 days after planting (DAP) was highest in the application of NPK at 30:30:50 Kg/ha, whereas the length of the vine was highest in the vermicompost-applied plots. Similarly, the leaf number was highest in the Titepati-treated plots. Also, the yield was highest in chemical fertilizer-treated plants. Likewise, the maximum plant-leaf chlorophyll content was recorded in ash-treated plants. Our result indicates that the judicious application of chemical fertilizers and organic manures boosts sweet potato production in the eastern mid-hills of Nepal.