SWEET POTATO PRODUCTION TIPS (Part 1)- A thread #farming #agribusinesstalk
SWEET POTATOES are generally an easy crop to farm as they are not capital intensive and high yields can be realised on small tracts of land. (1/18)
SWEET POTATOES are generally an easy crop to farm as they are not capital intensive and high yields can be realised on small tracts of land. (1/18)
There are two broad categories of sweet potatoes:
l The staple type with white flesh and white or purple skin has a high starch and dry matter content.
l The desert flesh and orange skin with a high sugar and beta-carotene content. (2/18)
l The staple type with white flesh and white or purple skin has a high starch and dry matter content.
l The desert flesh and orange skin with a high sugar and beta-carotene content. (2/18)
Three distinct types of sweet potato
l Orange or copper skin with orange flesh for example Beauregard, Hernandez,Beerwah Gold, NC-3, LO-323, Centennial, Darby and Jewel.
Zimbabwean orange cultivators such as Beauregard have long, cylindrical to heavy elliptic tubers. (3/18)
l Orange or copper skin with orange flesh for example Beauregard, Hernandez,Beerwah Gold, NC-3, LO-323, Centennial, Darby and Jewel.
Zimbabwean orange cultivators such as Beauregard have long, cylindrical to heavy elliptic tubers. (3/18)
They have high beta-carotene content and are fairly quick growers. It may become too big with long growing period.
l White or cream skin with white or cream flesh colour has a high yield and a good storage life. (4/18)
l White or cream skin with white or cream flesh colour has a high yield and a good storage life. (4/18)
It can produce good yield in a relatively short growing period (four months) which is important for cold regions. It produces some long, curved sweet potatoes, especially in sandy soils.
l Red or Purple skin with cream white flesh such as Northern Star, Red Abundance, (5/18)
l Red or Purple skin with cream white flesh such as Northern Star, Red Abundance, (5/18)
Rojo Blanco.
Kodow is a very attractive and tasty when cooked also with appointed oval tuber. Its tips break of very easily. It requires growing periods of five months to produce a good yield.
Selection of a variety to grow should be based on market demand. (6/18)
Kodow is a very attractive and tasty when cooked also with appointed oval tuber. Its tips break of very easily. It requires growing periods of five months to produce a good yield.
Selection of a variety to grow should be based on market demand. (6/18)
Varieties are assessed on a number of parameters, including root shape and uniformity, marketable yield, skin and flesh attractiveness and plant vigour.
Climatic requirements
Because sweet potatoes are of a tropical origin, (7/18)
Climatic requirements
Because sweet potatoes are of a tropical origin, (7/18)
they adapt well to warm climates and grow best during summer. Sweet potatoes are cold-sensitive and should not be planted until danger of frost is past.
The optimum temperature to achieve the best growth of sweet potatoes is between 21 and 29 degrees, (8/18)
The optimum temperature to achieve the best growth of sweet potatoes is between 21 and 29 degrees, (8/18)
although they can tolerate low temperatures of 18 degree Celsius.
Storage roots are sensitive to changes in soil temperatures, depending on the stage of root development. (9/18)
Storage roots are sensitive to changes in soil temperatures, depending on the stage of root development. (9/18)
Soil Requirements
A well-drained sandy loam is preferred and heavy clay soils should be avoided as they can retard root development, resulting in growth cracks and poor root shape.
Soil pH should be adjusted to about 6,0 by applying lime or dolomite. (10/18)
A well-drained sandy loam is preferred and heavy clay soils should be avoided as they can retard root development, resulting in growth cracks and poor root shape.
Soil pH should be adjusted to about 6,0 by applying lime or dolomite. (10/18)
Rates of 240kg and 400 kg/ha respectively will raise the pH by 0,1 of a unit. The soil should be deep ripped and then disk cultivated to break up any large clods and provide loose soil for hilling of beds. A yearly soil test is recommended to assess soil properties, (11/18
pH and nutrients levels before ground preparation.
Propagation
Sweet potatoes are propagated from sprouts or from slips (vine cuttings); sprouts are preferred.
Sprouts are grown from plant stock selected for its appearance, freedom from disease and off-types. (12/18)
Propagation
Sweet potatoes are propagated from sprouts or from slips (vine cuttings); sprouts are preferred.
Sprouts are grown from plant stock selected for its appearance, freedom from disease and off-types. (12/18)
Approximately 75kg of planting stock sweet potatoes are needed to produce enough sprouts to plant one hectare.
Cutting collection
Tip cuttings of about 30 to 40 cm long with approximately eight nodes are collected from the nursery bed, or the last established planting. (13/18)
Cutting collection
Tip cuttings of about 30 to 40 cm long with approximately eight nodes are collected from the nursery bed, or the last established planting. (13/18)
Tip cutting should be taken from crops that are old enough to provide material without excessive damage. Avoid ‘back cuts’ as these will have variable maturity and result in significant yield reduction. (14/18)
The lower leaves should be cut away as tearing these off may damage the nodes that will produce the roots. Cuttings can be left under a moist cloth in the shade for a couple of days to promote nodal rooting before planting in the field. At the recommended plant spacing, (15/18
330 cuttings are required for a 100m row.
Seedbed production of cuttings
This involves the propagation of cuttings from harvested roots which are placed together in a seedbed. (16/18)
Seedbed production of cuttings
This involves the propagation of cuttings from harvested roots which are placed together in a seedbed. (16/18)
This is an alternative method of producing plant material which requires less labour but does sacrifice a percentage of marketable roots. (17/18)
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