Effect of sowing distance on the yield and quality of tubers of two genotypes of hawthorn yam (D. rotundata) in the Colombian Caribbean region

Abstract

In Colombia, many planting distances are implemented for yam cultivation compared to African countries, which influences the yield in the Caribbean region, so the objective was to evaluate different planting densities to identify the optimal distance for hawthorn yam in the clone materials 0307 – 49SB, compared with the yam from the Caribbean region. The research was carried out in two locations: El Carmen de Bolívar headquarters (Agrosavia) and “La Esperanza” farm located in the municipality of Toluviejo (Sucre). The experimental design used was complete randomized blocks with three repetitions, in a 2x5 factorial arrangement, with factor A being two yam genotypes (clone 0307 – 49SB and Hawthorn cultivar) and Factor B being five population densities (10,000, 20,000, 30,00, 40,000 and 50,000 plants ha^-1). The variables were measured: leaf area, economic analysis and tuber yield (export type, commercial for local market, second-hand tubers, non-commercial and total yield). The results demonstrate than: the higher the population density, the higher the leaf area index. There was a significant difference between genotypes, clone 0307-49SB surpassed the commercial Hawthorn in total yield, export and second grade. In both materials, the total and export yields exceeded the yield for the local market. The unit production costs per ton of yam were lower in treatments T2 (clone 0307 – 49SB at 20,000 plants ha^-1) and T7 (hawthorn at 20,000 plants ha^-1) with 681,752 COP and 716,323 COP respectively, added to the price at the time. of the sale where the profit is reflected, resulting in the economic efficiency of 1.90 for T2 and 1.85 for T7.