Staking Options for Sustainable Yam Production in Ghana

Abstract

The study evaluated staking options to address the problem of deforestation for sustainable yam production in the Forest and Forest-Savannah Transition zones of Ghana. A split-plot design with three yam varieties (Dente, Water Yam and TDR95/19177 line) and three staking options (No staking, Vertical staking and Trellis with 50% and 30% number of vertical stakes for 2012 and 2013 respectively) as main plots and subplots respectively were used. Results revealed a significant (P < 0.05) interaction between yam variety and staking options on yam tuber yields in both locations and years. While water yam had similar tuber yields under all staking options, Dente and TDR95/19177 under no staking had significant yield reductions ranging from 37 to 65% compared to the other staking options. The observed yield reduction under no staking of Dente and TDR95/19177 could be attributed to higher incidence of yam mosaic virus leading to significantly lower fresh leaf biomass production. Reducing the number of stakes in trellis to as low as 30% of the vertical/optimum staking option did not result in a significant reduction in tuber yields for TDR95/19177 and Water yam. The economic analysis revealed that it is more profitable to produce water yam and TDR95/19177 under no staking and trellis (50% and 30% number of optimum staking) respectively in both locations. The results suggest trellis/minimum staking can be used to minimize the use of stakes, yam mosaic virus disease infection and for sustainable yam production in the face of climate change.

A Socioeconomic Study of Transition Zone Yam Farmers Addressing Constraints and Exploring Opportunities for Integrating Pigeonpea into Yam Cropping Systems

“…Farmers mostly had to walk these distances; a majority (46%) said they walked to their farms (Table 3). This finding is in line with a number of studies showing that farmers travel long distances in search of fertile lands for yam production [5,20]. Field survey, 2017.…”

Effect of azadirachtin pre-treatment on major pests, diseases and yield of seed yam

“…These districts possess prominent yam farming communities where the crop is intensively cultivated. They have promising local markets and experience bimodal rainfall pattern (Owusu- Danquah et al, 2015).…”

Pertumbuhan dan Produksi Dioscorea sansibarensis Pax pada Perlakuan Panjang lanjaran dan Waktu Batang Membelit*

“…Tanaman yang tidak diberi lanjaran atau dibiarkan tumbuh menjalar menghasilkan pertumbuhan paling rendah diantara perlakuan lainnya disebabkan oleh adanya hambatan atau gangguan pertumbuhan tanaman, terutama saat musim hujan, sehingga beberapa daun tidak dapat tumbuh dengan normal atau mati akibat membusuk sehingga jumlah dan luas daun yang dihasilkan lebih rendah. Danquah et al (2015) melaporkan bahwa hasil total tanaman Dioscorea spp. yang tidak diberi lanjaran lebih rendah dibanding tanaman yang diberi lanjaran.…”

“…Desember 2017 pengekspor produk tanaman ini (Danquah et al, 2015). Umbinya merupakan sumber protein, serat dan mineral yang penting, selain karbohidrat (Ogah, 2013) dan sangat baik digunakan sebagai makanan bagi penderita diabetes (Sunarsih et al, 2007) karena memiliki indeks glikemik yang rendah yaitu sekitar 5.1 dibanding nasi dan kentang yang masing-masing memiliki indeks glikemik 72 dan 54 (Maulidia dan Estiasih, 2014).…”

“…Salah satu kendala produksi Dioscorea spp adalah rendahnya hasil umbi tanaman (Saka et al, 2007) yang disebabkan oleh teknik budidaya yang kurang tepat (Ogah, 2013). Pemberian lanjaran sangat penting untuk meningkatkan pertumbuhan dan hasil umbi tanaman ini (Adeniyan et al, 2007;Otoo, 2008;Law-Ogbomo dan Remison, 2008;Tsado, 2012;Ennin et al, 2014;Danquah et al, 2015) karena tumbuhnya memanjat atau membelit hingga 1.5-3.0 m (Ogah, 2013). Penurunan hasil dapat mencapai 37-65% pada tanaman yang tidak diberi lanjaran (Danquah et al, 2015).…”