Sweet potato

Soil:

Can be grown in loamy soil with

a pH range of 5.6-6.6

Season and planting:

- Plant the terminal vine cuttings

(80 000/ha) at 20 cm spacing

- The cuttings should be 10-15 cm

in length with 2-3 nodes and to

be collected from matured vines

aged 3 months and above

Preparation of field:

• Plough the field to fine tilth. The

soil depth should be at least 30

cm. Form ridges and furrows 60

cm apart or beds

• Irrigate before planting, on 3rd

day and then after once a week

•Stop irrigation one week before

harvest

• No irrigation needed if soil is

moist

• The field should be kept clean by

hand weeding till vines are fully

developed

• Earth up the field on 25th, 50th

and 75th day after planting

• Remove previous sweet potato

crop residues and alternate host

i.e., Ipomoea sp. And destroy

them

• Use pest free planting materials

• Immediately after maturity and

destroy the crop residues

• 20–25 t/ha of tubers in 110–120

days

Health And Agro tip