The Effect of Deficit Irrigation, Manure and NPK on Quality and Proximate Content of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP)

Abstract

The study was conducted at University of Cape Coast Research Farm, Cape Coast, Ghana from September, 2014 to January, 2015. The objective of the research was to investigate the effects of irrigation levels, chicken manure, cow dung, NPK and interactions on the: quality and proximate content of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato roots. Sixteen treatments (four levels of irrigation and four soil amendments) with three replicates were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD).  Deficit irrigation and soil amendments interaction significantly influenced fibre content of roots.  For Poultry manure and Cow dung treatment, deficit irrigation increased root fibre content. PM and 100 % CWR interaction resulted in the lowest root fibre content of 5.96 %. Cow dung and 70 % CWR produced the highest root fibre content of 15.62 %.  Deficit irrigation decreased sugar content of roots.  Deficit irrigation did not influence starch and phenol content of roots.  Deficit irrigation increased carotenoid and ash content. For cow dung treatment deficit irrigation increased phenol content of roots. Irrigation and soil amendments interaction had no influence on Phosphorous, Calcium and Magnesium content of roots.