Quality Assessment of Sweetpotato Roots (Ipomoea batatas L.) as Influenced by Ridge Height, Vine Cutting and Vine Orientation

Sweetpotato in sub-saharan Africa is presently receiving attention as it is a cheap source of calories and helps in the fight against malnutrition. In view of these, two field trials were conducted during the 2016 and 2017 rainy seasons at the Research Farm Federal University Dutse (11°70' N, 9°34' E, and 460 m above sea level, in the Sudan savannah zone of Nigeria to determine effect of ridge height, vine cutting and vine orientation on nutritional quality of sweetpotato. The treatments consisted of ridge heights (0 cm (flat ground), 30 cm, 40 cm, 50 cm and 60 cm), vine cuttings (apical, mid and basal) and vine orientations (45°, 90° and 180°) laid out in a split plot design, with the ridge heights and vine cuttings in the main plot and vine orientations in the sub plot and replicated three times.. Ridging had significant effects on quality attributes with higher quantities of nutrient elements in higher ridges. Carbohydrate content was higher in the apical vine cutting, calcium and crude fibre contents were higher in the base than in other vine cuttings. In conclusion it can be recommended that for better plant establishment and subsequent root yield and better quality attributes ridging from 30cm, apical vine cuttings should be used. For higher fibre content the basal vine cutting should be used.