Abstract:
Eswatini farmers have been growing sweet potato for many years and it is an important
indigenised root crop. The yield of sweet potato in Eswatini is below world average due to nonusage of inorganic fertilisers. Fertilisers are not used because they are perceived to compromise
quality thus reducing consumer acceptability. A field experiment was conducted at the
University of Eswatiniin the 2019/2020 cropping season to determine the yield and consumer
acceptability of two popular sweet potato varieties. The experiment was laid out in a randomised
complete block design in a 2×3 factorial arrangement, two sweetpotato varieties (Kenya white
and Ligwalagwala); three blends of inorganic fertilisers namely 2:3:2 (22), P+K blend and
Potassium chloride. The experiment was replicated three times. Results showed that there was no
significant differences in tuber yieldamong the two varieties, Kenya white had 28 378 kg/ha and
Ligwalagwala had 30 897 kg/ha on fresh mass basis. There was also no significant difference in
tuber yieldacross the three inorganic fertilisers. However, the combination of Ligwalagwala
variety with 2:3:2 (22) had the highest yield (32 352 kg/ha) on fresh mass basis. Although not
significant, consumers preferred Ligwalagwala that was fertilised with Potassium chloride. It is
recommended that Ligwalagwala be grown using 2:3:2 (22). |
