ISBN 978-967-10840-5-2

Trans. Malaysian Soc. Plant Physiol. 23

First Published, 2016

Sweet Potato Growth and Yield as Affected by Application of Inorganic

Fertilizer and Biofertilizer
Martini, M.Y.1,*, Nur Liyana, N.1, Halim, R.A.1, Radziah, O2., Nur Suhaili, A.B., Iffatul Arifah,
Y. and Siti Salwa, Y.
1
Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
2
Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang,
Malaysia
*E-mail: [email protected]

Introduction

Sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) belongs to Convolvulaceae family and is a short term food crop that
offers many economic opportunities in downstream processing of food products. Its high nutrient
content can be observed in the exceedingly rich beta-carotene and phytonutrients, including
polysaccharide-related molecules such as batatins and batatosides (Tumuhimbise et al., 2009). Sweet
potatoes also contain storage proteins called sporamins which have unique antioxidant properties
(Failla et al., 2009). They are also a very good source of vitamin C, manganese, copper, pantothenic
acid, and vitamin B6. Additionally, they are a good source of potassium, dietary fiber, niacin, vitamin
B1, vitamin B2, and phosphate. Globally, it is among the important food crops in the world, after
wheat, rice, maize, potato, and barley. The tubers are used in the production of industrial starch,
alcohol, pectin and others. Considerable interest is being shown in the cultivation of sweet potato as it
gives high yield and sweet potato is relatively an easy crop to grow. Based on statistics, the
production of sweet potato in Malaysia was 26,582 tonne in 2011 and increased to 26,688 tonne in
2013 with cultivated area of 2,229 ha in 2011 to 2,505 ha in 2013 (Jabatan Pertanian, 2013). Many
growers use solely inorganic fertilizer in the cultivation of sweet potato. The combination of inorganic
fertilizer with organic matter can create a beneficial interaction in maintaining high soil fertility.
According Yeng et al., (2012), both inorganic and organic inputs are needed to increase crop
production in Guinea Savanna zone. The importance of organic fertilizer is seen in its little or no
soluble salt content and its application in large quantity without at risk of damaging crop roots and
soil microorganisms. It helps to break the organic materials into inorganic water soluble forms for
plant use increase water retention and encourages the biological activity of the soil (Kareem, 2013).
Thus, the present study was conducted to determine the effects of biofertilizer applied with different
rates of inorganic fertilizer on growth and yield of orange sweet potato variety.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted on mineral soil at Field 15, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra
Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor. Previously, the experimental plot was grown with pasture grass. The
experiment started in early May until August 2015. Stem cuttings of 30 cm from plants aged 2 months
were used as planting materials. The planting materials were obtained from Ulu Chuchuh, Sepang,
Selangor. The cuttings were planted at a distance of 25 cm between plant and 30 cm between the
ridges. There were four treatments (NPK 12:12:17:2 fertilizer at 280 kg ha-1 (control), NPK
12:12:17:2 fertilizer at 280 kg ha-1 + Biofertilizer, NPK 12:12:17:2 at 400 kg ha-1 and NPK 12:12:17:2
at 400 kg ha-1 + Biofertilizer) arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design of 16 experimental
plots with four replications. Biofertilizer was applied as organic fertilizer at rate of 4 t ha-1. Chicken
manure were applied to experimental plots at 5 t ha-1 prior planting. NPK fertilizer were applied in
three split applications at 21, 35 and 56 days after planting. Weeds were controlled manually every
week starting from the planting date.

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 ISBN 978-967-10840-5-2
Trans. Malaysian Soc. Plant Physiol. 23
First Published, 2016

Measurements and Data Analysis

Tuber yield was recorded once for every two weeks starting from three weeks after planting by
successive harvesting using 0.2 m2 quadrat. Maximum tuber yield was calculated as the highest fresh
yield of sweet potato over the whole experimental period for each treatment. Fresh yield was weighed
using a digital balance and tuber samples were oven dried at 70 0C to constant weight. Radiation
interception (PAR) and leaf area index (LAI) were measured using a Decagon AccuPAR model LP-
80 PAR/LAI Ceptometer (Decagon Devices, Inc., Washington, USA). Measurements were taken
weekly once the canopy had formed. The fraction of radiation intercepted (Fi) was determined using
the techniques of Gallagher and Biscoe (1978): Fi = (1 – Ti) where Ti was the transmitted radiation.
The radiation use efficiency (RUE) was calculated as the slope of the linear relationship between
accumulated crop biomass and accumulated intercepted PAR. The regression line was forced through
the origin based on assumption that when accumulated intercepted PAR was zero, no dry matter was
produced.

Data analysis

Data were subject to analysis of variance and mean values were compared using Least Significant
Difference at the 0.05 level.

Results

Maximum Tuber Yield

Maximum tuber yields showed no significant differences between treatments. The highest yield was
15,370 kg ha-1 from the combination of 280 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer and biofertilizer and the lowest was
10,560 kg ha-1 from the combination of 400 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer and biofertilizer (Figure 1).
24000
Maximum tuber yield (kg ha -1)

16000

8000

0
T1 T2 T3 T4
Fertilizer

Figure 1: Maximum tuber yield of (T1: 280 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer (control), T2: 280 kg ha-1 NPK
fertilizer + Biofertilizer, T3: 400 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer and T4: 400 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer +
Biofertilizer) of orange sweet potato.

Intercepted PAR and LAI

From the exponential curve the critical LAI (LAIcrit) at 90% of intercepted PAR was calculated to be
4.21 for (a) T1, 3.96 for (b) T2, 4.12 and 4.18 for (c) T3 and (d) T4, respectively (Figure 2). Figures
2a-d show all treatments intercepted radiation up to 90%, which meant that they did reach the LAIcrit.
The LAIcrit for all treatments was achieved at 62 to 77 days after sowing (Figure 2.1a-d).
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 ISBN 978-967-10840-5-2
Trans. Malaysian Soc. Plant Physiol. 23
First Published, 2016

1.2 (b)
(a)

0.9 0.9
0.8

0.4

Fraction of light intercepted

0.0
4.21 3.96

1.2 (c) (d)

0.9 0.9
0.8

4.2
0.4

0.0
4.12 4.18
0 2 4 6 0 2 4 6

Leaf area index

Figure 2: The relationship between the fraction of radiation intercepted against leaf area index of (a)
(T1) 280 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer (control), (b) (T2) 280 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer + Biofertilizer,
(c) (T3) 400 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer and (d) (T4) 400 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer + Biofertilizer)
of orange sweet potato.
6 (a) (b)

4.21
4 3.96

2
Leaf area index

0 66 62

6 (c) (d)

4.12 4.18
4

0 77
67 0 30 60 90
0 30 60 90
Days after sowing
Figure 2.1: The relationship between the leaf area index against days after sowing of (a) (T1) 280 kg
ha-1 NPK fertilizer (control), (b) (T2) 280 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer + Biofertilizer, (c) (T3)
400 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer and (d) (T4) 400 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer + Biofertilizer of
orange sweet potato.

Total intercepted photosynthetically active radiation

No significant difference for the total intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was
detected for all treatments (Table 1).

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 ISBN 978-967-10840-5-2
Trans. Malaysian Soc. Plant Physiol. 23
First Published, 2016

Table 1: Total intercepted photosynthetically radiation radiation (PAR) of orange sweet potato
receiving different inorganic fertilizer and biofertilizer treatments.
Fertilizer Total intercepted PAR
(a) 280 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer 444a
-1
(b) 280 kg ha NPK fertilizer + Biofertilizer 432a
-1
(c) 400 kg ha NPK fertilizer 426a
(d) 400 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer + Biofertilizer 438a
Means with the same letter are not significantly different (P>0.05) usig LSD

Radiation use efficiency (RUE)

There was no significant difference among fertilizer treatments in RUE similar with other
measurements (Table 2). Radiation use efficiency ranged between 1.75 (400 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer) to
2.36 (280 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer + Biofertilizer).

Table 2: Radiation use efficiency of orange sweet potato receiving different inorganic fertilizer and
biofertilizer treatments.
Fertilizer Radiation use efficiency
(a) 280 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer 2.02a
-1
(b) 280 kg ha NPK fertilizer + Biofertilizer 2.36a
-1
(c) 400 kg ha NPK fertilizer 1.75a
(d) 400 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizer + Biofertilizer 1.89a
Means with the same letter are not significantly different (P>0.05) using LSD

Discussion

In the present study, the objectives of the study to determine the effects of biofertilizer applied with
different percentage of inorganic fertilizer in combination with biofertilizer on growth and yield of
orange sweet potato did not show positive results. Maximum tuber yield, total intercepted PAR and
RUE were not significantly different among treatments. The results were in contrast with the finding
of Agbede, (2010) which indicated that application of NPK fertilizer and poultry manure significantly
increased the tuber yield of sweet potato, however, the application of NPK fertilizer or poultry manure
alone did not show any significant difference. No significant difference in amount of intercepted PAR
and RUE indicated equal efficiency of PAR conversion into biomass for all treatments applied.
Generally if there is any positive yield response, it will be associated with increment in interception of
PAR and high RUE by understanding the interaction of PAR and RUE in response with biomass.
Shangakkara et al., (2004) stated that the replenishment of nutrient and enhanced quality of tropical
soils could be achieved through the addition of fertilizers, organic matter or a combination of both.
The lack of significant response exhibited by the orange sweet potato could be attributed to the lack of
survival rate of microbes in the soil applied with biofertilizer and it could be related to the crop itself.
Sweet potato has the ability to produce long roots and vines which can extract nutrients and enable it
to survive even under poor soils with high aluminium content (Janssens, 2010). The other factor that
could explain for the absence of significant effects on tuber yields and other measurements could be
the widespread incidence of sweet potato weevil which started in late June.

Conclusion

The application of NPK fertilizer and biofertilizer did not show any significant difference for all
treatments, however, it was observed that the application of NPK fertilizer at 400 kg ha-1 and
biofertilizer at 4 t ha-1 led to production of moderate yield of orange sweet potato in comparison with
standard practice.

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Trans. Malaysian Soc. Plant Physiol. 23
First Published, 2016

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