Comparative evaluation of agronomic performance and yield of sweet potato (ipomoea batatas) using disease-indexed and non-disease-indexed vines under Zimbabwean field conditions
- Author
- Chokudya, K.
- Title
- Comparative evaluation of agronomic performance and yield of sweet potato (ipomoea batatas) using disease-indexed and non-disease-indexed vines under Zimbabwean field conditions
- Abstract
- Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a vital root crop in Zimbabwe, contributing significantly to food security and rural livelihoods. However, production is often constrained by viral diseases, which impair both vegetative growth and yield. This study aimed to compare the agronomic performance and yield of disease-indexed and non-disease-indexed sweet potato vines under Zimbabwean field conditions. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications was employed to evaluate two treatments: disease-indexed vines and non-disease-indexed vines. Data were collected on plant height, canopy spread, number of tubers per plant, total tuber yield, and marketable yield. The data were analyzed using GenStat statistical software, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed at a 5% significance level. The results showed that disease indexed vines significantly outperformed non-disease-indexed vines across all parameters. Plant height for disease-indexed vines averaged 188.23 cm compared to 131.43 cm for non-disease indexed vines (p < 0.05). Similarly, canopy spread was 72.6 cm for disease-indexed vines and 61.5 cm for non-disease-indexed vines (p < 0.001). Tuber count, total yield, and marketable yield were also significantly higher in disease-indexed vines, with values of 12.8, 18.83 kg/plot, and 16.67 kg/plot respectively (p < 0.001 for all). These findings confirm that using disease-indexed planting materials results in improved vegetative vigor and higher yields. The study recommends the adoption of disease-indexed vines in sweet potato production to enhance productivity, food security, and economic returns for farmers in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, the research highlights the need for investment in clean seed systems and decentralized vine multiplication centres to improve the accessibility of disease-free vines. Future studies should explore the long-term performance of disease-indexed vines across different agro ecological zones and seasons, including an economic cost-benefit analysis for broader adoption.
- Date
- OCTOBER 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- sweet potato
- disease
- Supervisor
-
MR K. Mutsengi
- Item sets
- Department of Crop Sciences
