STABILIZATION OF YIELD PARAMETERS AND SOME NUTRIENT COMPONENTS IN COCOYAM CULTIVARS WITH TIME IN UYO, SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

A study was conducted during 1996 and 1997 cropping seasons to determine the influence of harvesting time on the yield, protein and ash components of four cocoyam cultivars. A randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement was used. The time of harvesting (12,24,and 36 weeks after planting-WAP) constituted the main-treatments while the cultivars (NCY 001,NCY 002, NCY 004 and NCY 005) were the sub-treatments. Results showed that harvesting at 24 WAP resulted in 45-70% and 16-71% more shoots and leaves per stand, respectively than harvesting either at 12 or 36 WAP. Cultivar NCY 004 produced 16-53% more number of shoots per stand than other cultivars. The percent protein content in the leaves, cormels and corms was highest at 12 WAP whereas ash content increased with delayed harvesting. Cormel and corm yields obtained at 24 WAP was not significantly different from that obtained at 36 WAP, when bulking is supposed to be at optimum. Among the Xanthosoma and Colocasia cultivars, NCY 001 and NCY 004 produced the best corm and cormel yields, respectively and are therefore recommended for planting in this agro-ecology.


Key Words: Cocoyam cultivars, harvesting time, yield, protein, ash.


Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol.2(2) 2003: 74-78