Performance of Sweet Potatoes Varieties under Different Organic Matter Levels in BRIS Soil

Abstract

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is a highly important crop, ranking fifth among tropical food crops and seventh globally. It thrives in BRIS (Beach Ridges Interspersed with Swales) soil, which is challenging for most crops to grow in but can be improved with organic matter like chicken dung. This study aimed to determine the growth, yield, and characteristics of four sweet potato varieties on BRIS soil and find the ideal amount of organic matter needed for optimal results. The four varieties, VitAto (V), Anggun 1 (A), Cameron (C), and Lembayung (L), were planted with two levels of organic matter, 5 and 10 tan/ha, for a total of eight treatments. Growth (vine length and tuber number), yield (tuber weight), and physiology (chlorophyll content) were measured using destructive analysis. Minitab software was used for data analysis and correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships between growth, yield, and physiology. The study found that the new varieties with 10 tan/ha of organic matter showed better performance compared to the control. Lembayung, Cameron, and Anggun 1 had higher tuber numbers, and Lembayung had the highest tuber weight while Cameron variety exhibited vigorous vegetative growth. The optimum amount of organic matter for fast growth and high yield was found to be 10t/ha. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into improving sweet potato cultivation in BRIS soil.