Abstract

 Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas LAM) is among the world’s most important, versatile and under exploited food crops. Not much research has been carried out on the most suitable land preparation technique(s) for its production. This work was designed to assess the effects of land preparation methods on the performance of sweet potato and make recommendations on land preparation for optimal and sustainable production. The land preparation methods used in this experiment were ploughing and harrowing, ploughing harrowing and ridging, ridging, Slash and burn. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. This gave a total of 15 plots. Each plot measured 3m X 4m (12m2) with lm2 between plot spacing. The size of each experimental plot was 26 m X 13 m, making a total land area of 338m2. Potato vines were planted at 50 cm within the rows and 100 cm between the rows. Growth parameters were measured between 4 and 14 weeks after planting (WAP). Data were collected on vine length, number of leaves and stem diameter. Yield parameters taken at harvest (14WAP) were number of roots, tuber length, tuber girth and fresh weight. The data were subjected to analysis of variance, correlation was carried out on the data and significant differences were separated using least significant difference (LSD). The results showed that at 5 and 6 WAP, ploughed harrowed and ridged plots produced the longest vines of 89.00cm and 143.58cm respectively. There was a significant correlation between vine length and tuber length 5 and 6WAP (r2 = 0.55, P2 = 0. 59, P<0>2 = - 0.466146, PO 01). If sweet potato were to be produced for propagation and use of its vines or for forage, a combination of ploughing, harrowing and ridging method of land preparation is recommended. Slash and burn land preparation method is suggested only if the leaves are required for forage, vegetables or other purposes, as such the study recommends that the leaves should then be harvested at 7weeks after planting. If sweet potato is to be planted for the roots, the highest fresh yield of sweet potato was obtained in slash and burn land preparation method, so slash and burn land preparation method is recommended.