ISHS Acta Horticulturae 806: International Symposium on Underutilized Plants for Food Security, Nutrition, Income and Sustainable Development
STUDIES ON THE OPTIMUM MINISETT SIZES FOR RAPID MULTIPLICATION OF RIZGA (PLECTRANTHUS ESCULENTUS), HAUSA POTATO (SOLENOSTERUM ROTUNDIFOLIUM), AND TURMERIC (CURCUMA LONGA) IN NIGERIA |
| Authors: | O.N. Eke-Okoro, A.O. Olojede, C. Nwadili |
| Keywords: | minor root crops, poultry manure, field capacity, fresh tuber yield, marketable, unmarketable fresh tuber, dry matter |
| Abstract:
Scarcity of planting materials resulting from low multiplication ratio of minor (underutilized) root and tuber crops rizga (Plectranthus esculentus), turmeric (Curcuma longa), and Hausa potato (Solenosterum rotundifolium) limit their massive production for poverty alleviation and food security. A study on the optimum minisett sizes (3, 4, 5, and 6 g) for rapid multiplication of four minor root and tuber crops (white rizga, black rizga, Hausa potato, and turmeric) were studied in 2003-2004 cropping seasons in Umudike, Nigeria. Minisett sizes were obtained by varying the length of the tubers. The minisetts were planted in polyethylene bags of 25×17×17 cm3 dimension. The bags were filled with top soil mixed with poultry manure. The soil was saturated with water at 100%-filled capacity. The bags were placed in an open field and planting was done in May of each year. Water was applied twice a week and the experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design using a 4×4 factorial arrangement with three replications. The crops were harvested four months after planting. The result showed that the number of days to 50% seedling emergence, total number of fresh tuber, and fresh tuber yields were dependent on the weight of minisett. Optimum minisett weight of 5 g sustained the highest number of fresh tubers and fresh tuber yields irrespective of crop species. For rapid multiplication of minor root and tuber crops (rizga, Hausa potato, and turmeric), an optimum minisett weight of 5 g is recommended for increasing and sustaining planting material production in order to achieve food security. | |
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