GROWTH AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF SWEET POTATO (IPOMEABATATASL.) VARIETIES AS INFLUENCED BY VINE LIFTING

ABSTRACT The uses of different agronomic practices have shownan improvement in the yield of sweet potato in sub-Saharan Africa. Based on this, an experiment to ascertain the response of sweet potato varieties to vine liftingwasconducted during the 2024 rainy season in the Wudil (11⁰40’N 8⁰16’E). The location is within the Sudan savannah zone of Nigeria.The experiment was made up of 2 factors; varieties (Dan China and Dan Izala) and vine lifting (lifting and non-lifting)which were conducted in 2 by 2 factorial arrangement and laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Lifting had significant effect on growth and yield of sweet potato as it was observed thatmore numberof branches and leaves were obtained from liftedplants compared to non-lifted ones. High mean roots per hectare and roots diameter was obtained from lifted plants. Varieties shows no significant different on growth. But, itshows significant effect on yield. Dan China has high mean roots in kg per hectare than Dan Izala.More numbers of roots per plantand per hectare was obtained from Dan Izala.The interaction between vine lifting and varieties show no significant difference on growth, whereas significant interaction was observed on yield. Non-liftedDan Chinahadmore number of roots per hectare than lifted Dan China, lifted DanIzala and non-lifted Dan Izala.Lifted Dan China variety was observed to give higher roots yield per hectare whereas non lifted Dan Izala gave lowest roots yieldper hectare.In conclusion it can be recommended that, variety Dan China with vine lifting which gave highest yield, therefore can be adopt by farmers for better result in sweet potato production.