Performance Evaluation of Sweet Potato Varieties with Mulberry Trees

P erform ance E valuation of Sw eet P otato (Ipom oea batatasL .) V arieties U nder D ifferent Fertilization Strategies Intercropped w ith M ulberry Trees Marjohn V. Anislag Associate Professor Surigao del Norte State University-Mainit Campus, Magpayang, Mainit 8403, Surigao del Norte, Philippines

INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION The global rise in hunger and malnutrition, fueled by poverty and inequity, particularly in developing nations like the Philippines, highlights an urgent need for sustainable agricultural solutions to address food insecurity and poverty. This study focuses on developing an agroforestry system integrating sweet potato and mulberry trees, leveraging their complementary benefits to improve land productivity, economic returns, and nutrition. Sweet potato, a nutrient-dense crop, and mulberry, known for adaptability and high-value applications, are evaluated under intercropping conditions with varied fertilization strategies, aiming to optimize yield and compatibility. Specifically, the research assesses four sweet potato varieties and fertilization approaches to explore their effects on crop growth, survival rates, storage root yield, and cost-benefit outcomes, offering a promising pathway to enhance food security, diversify farming systems, and combat malnutrition in resource-constrained settings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Growth and Yield of Sweet potato Varieties The study examined the effects of sweet potato varieties and fertilizer application on growth and yield, revealing significant differences in vine length, number of secondary vines, and storage root weight among varieties. Immitlog demonstrated the best performance across all growth parameters, followed by Seven Flores, both showing high yield potential. Violeta and Seri Kenya had lower but acceptable yields. Fertilizer application significantly improved root production but had limited effects on other growth traits, with no observed interaction between varieties and fertilizers. These findings highlight the importance of variety selection, particularly Immitlog and Seven Flores, and the role of fertilizers in enhancing sweet potato yield, allowing uniform fertilizer application across varieties.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Growth and Yield of Mulberry The study assessed the growth and yield of mulberry trees intercropped with sweet potato, focusing on biomass yield, shoot length, shoot diameter, and leaf development. Results showed that sweet potato varieties did not significantly influence parameters, indicating that mulberry growth is independent of the specific intercropped variety. However, fertilization strategies, particularly the use of urea combinations, significantly enhanced mulberry growth, improving biomass yield, shoot length, and leaf weight. No interaction was found between sweet potato varieties and fertilization treatments, emphasizing that fertilization alone is critical for optimizing mulberry intercropping systems. This underscores the importance of management for productivity in such systems. these growth and organic/inorganic production in proper maximizing fertilization mulberry

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Climatological and Soil Data. The study found that favorable temperature and humidity during the growing season positively influenced sweet potato growth, but insufficient rainfall limited water availability, emphasizing the need for supplemental irrigation in areas with inconsistent rainfall. Soil analysis showed an increase in pH and organic matter content after the growing period, improving soil fertility by enhancing structure, water retention, and microbial activity. However, significant decreases in available phosphorus and potassium due to high nutrient uptake by sweet potato highlight the necessity of balanced fertilization to sustain soil fertility and ensure productivity in future crop cycles.

Results and Discussion Results and Discussion Economic Performance. The net income derived from the sweet potato and mulberry intercropping system was highest for plants that received a combination of rate organic compost and rate inorganic nitrogen fertilizer (Figure 9). This treatment resulted in the most favorable growth and yield, likely due to the balanced nutrient supply from both organic and inorganic sources, which supported optimal plant development. The close second in terms of net income was observed in plots treated with inorganic urea alone. This suggests that while the combined organic-inorganic fertilizer treatment performed best, inorganic nitrogen alone still contributed to a significant increase in crop yield and overall profitability, likely by meeting the plants' high nitrogen demands.

CONCLUSION CONCLUSION The study concludes that sweet potato can be successfully intercropped with mulberry trees. Varieties such as Seven Flores, Immitlog, and Violeta are suitable for intercropping, with Immitlog showing the highest storage root yield. There was no significant interaction between sweetpotato varieties and fertilization strategies in influencing the growth and yield of both crops. The climatic conditions were generally favorable for sweet potato growth, except for the insufficient rainfall. Additionally, soil properties showed significant changes, with an increase in pH and organic matter content but a decrease in available phosphorus and potassium. Fertilization strategies involving organic compost and inorganic nitrogen, as well as inorganic urea alone, produced the highest net returns.

RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the findings, the following recommendations are proposed: Sweetpotato Variety Selection: intercropping with mulberry trees due to its higher yield in terms of storage roots, leading to increased income. Fertilization Strategy: A fertilization system of rate organic compost and rate inorganic nitrogen fertilizer, or RR inorganic N alone, is recommended to maximize growth and yield for both sweetpotato and mulberry. Soil Management: Regular replenishment of phosphorus and potassium is suggested to maintain soil fertility, especially after intensive cropping. Climate Adaptation: While temperature and humidity were suitable for sweet potato growth, additional measures such as irrigation might be needed to compensate for insufficient rainfall during the growing season. Immitlog is recommended for

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