Effect of Variety Selection on Growth,Development and Yield of White Yam in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

An on-farm yam experiment was conducted to confirm the agro-climatic potential of Abeokuta, South-western Nigeria for three white yam varieties (Dioscorea rotundata). Three varieties of yam (Efuru, Ise-osi and Oniyere) was selected and related to crop growth and yield. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design in three replicate. The result showed that all yam varieties evaluated were suitable for planting in the area. However, Efuru and Ise-osi syn- chronized perfectly with the pattern of Actual Water Availability and produced good vegetative growth with Leaf Area Index LAI, of 1.08 and 0.91 thereby leading to high tuber yield of 12 tonnes ha -1 and 11.64 tonnes ha -1 , respectively. Oniyere had LAI of 0.44 resulting in a lower tuber yield of 11.53 tonnes ha -1 .