Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Response to Filter Cake and Macadamia Husk Compost in Two Agroecologies of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
Field experiments were carried out during the summer/autumn (first trial) and winter/spring (second trial) seasons of 2019 and 2021 in the Dlangubo, Ngwelezane, and Mtubatuba areas of KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa to study the drought amelioration effects and impact of two locally available...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/12/3091 |
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| author | Kayode Fatokun Nozipho M. Motsa Albert T. Modi |
| author_facet | Kayode Fatokun Nozipho M. Motsa Albert T. Modi |
| author_sort | Kayode Fatokun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Field experiments were carried out during the summer/autumn (first trial) and winter/spring (second trial) seasons of 2019 and 2021 in the Dlangubo, Ngwelezane, and Mtubatuba areas of KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa to study the drought amelioration effects and impact of two locally available organic wastes (filter cake—a residue derived from sugar cane filtration (FC) and macadamia husk compost (MHC)) on the productivity and physiological responses of four orange-fleshed sweet potato cultivars (Beauregard cv., Impilo, W-119 and 199062.1). The effects of FC and MHC were compared with that of inorganic fertilizer (IF) [2:3:2 (30)], FC + IF, MHC + IF, and the control. The soil amendments were applied in the first trials only. Climatic data such as humidity, temperature, and rainfall were taken via remote sensing. The results of the first trial indicated that filter cake and IF significantly performed better than MHC. The strength of filter cake may be attributable to its rich array of mineral nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, iron, and phosphorus. The limited performance of MHC may be attributable to its ability to hold water. Furthermore, a positive correction occurred between the yield of the test orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) cultivars, rainfall, and vegetation indices (normalized difference vegetation index, enhanced vegetation index, and normalized difference water index) investigated in the study. In season two, IF treatment did not have any significant effect on the growth and productivity of any of the tested sweet potato cultivars, but, FC, FC + IF, and MHC treatments largely maintained their performances. In conclusion, the use of FC is highly recommended in the production of the test OFSP cultivars. Furthermore, the study indicates that both FC and MHC may not only supply the needed plant nutrients but has the capacity to reduce the impact of drought on the growth of the test cultivars. These findings are of great value to farmers, especially the resource-poor ones. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:26:21Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:26:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-cc27a1730f4340be9cebc58b87c753a62023-11-24T12:46:16ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-12-011212309110.3390/agronomy12123091Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Response to Filter Cake and Macadamia Husk Compost in Two Agroecologies of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South AfricaKayode Fatokun0Nozipho M. Motsa1Albert T. Modi2Department of Agriculture, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaDepartment of Agriculture, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaSchool of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaField experiments were carried out during the summer/autumn (first trial) and winter/spring (second trial) seasons of 2019 and 2021 in the Dlangubo, Ngwelezane, and Mtubatuba areas of KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa to study the drought amelioration effects and impact of two locally available organic wastes (filter cake—a residue derived from sugar cane filtration (FC) and macadamia husk compost (MHC)) on the productivity and physiological responses of four orange-fleshed sweet potato cultivars (Beauregard cv., Impilo, W-119 and 199062.1). The effects of FC and MHC were compared with that of inorganic fertilizer (IF) [2:3:2 (30)], FC + IF, MHC + IF, and the control. The soil amendments were applied in the first trials only. Climatic data such as humidity, temperature, and rainfall were taken via remote sensing. The results of the first trial indicated that filter cake and IF significantly performed better than MHC. The strength of filter cake may be attributable to its rich array of mineral nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, iron, and phosphorus. The limited performance of MHC may be attributable to its ability to hold water. Furthermore, a positive correction occurred between the yield of the test orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) cultivars, rainfall, and vegetation indices (normalized difference vegetation index, enhanced vegetation index, and normalized difference water index) investigated in the study. In season two, IF treatment did not have any significant effect on the growth and productivity of any of the tested sweet potato cultivars, but, FC, FC + IF, and MHC treatments largely maintained their performances. In conclusion, the use of FC is highly recommended in the production of the test OFSP cultivars. Furthermore, the study indicates that both FC and MHC may not only supply the needed plant nutrients but has the capacity to reduce the impact of drought on the growth of the test cultivars. These findings are of great value to farmers, especially the resource-poor ones.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/12/3091amendmentsdroughtfilter cakemacadamia husk compostsweet potatovegetation indices |
| spellingShingle | Kayode Fatokun Nozipho M. Motsa Albert T. Modi Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Response to Filter Cake and Macadamia Husk Compost in Two Agroecologies of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa Agronomy amendments drought filter cake macadamia husk compost sweet potato vegetation indices |
| title | Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Response to Filter Cake and Macadamia Husk Compost in Two Agroecologies of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa |
| title_full | Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Response to Filter Cake and Macadamia Husk Compost in Two Agroecologies of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Response to Filter Cake and Macadamia Husk Compost in Two Agroecologies of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Response to Filter Cake and Macadamia Husk Compost in Two Agroecologies of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa |
| title_short | Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Response to Filter Cake and Macadamia Husk Compost in Two Agroecologies of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa |
| title_sort | orange fleshed sweet potato response to filter cake and macadamia husk compost in two agroecologies of kwazulu natal province south africa |
| topic | amendments drought filter cake macadamia husk compost sweet potato vegetation indices |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/12/3091 |
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