Agronomic performance of sweet potato genotypes in Eswatini under organic and inorganic soil amendments

Two field trials were conducted at the Lowveld Experimental Station (LES) and Malkerns Research Station (MRS) to determine the agronomic performance of sweet potato genotypes in Eswatini under organic and inorganic soil amendments.A 3 x 5 factorial experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block with three replications.The treatments included four sweetpotato genotypes, Namanga, Cecelia, Melinda and Ligwalagwala with five nutrient amendments: no fertiliser/manure, four rates of cattle manure at 20, 40, 60 and NPK 2:3:4 (39) at 0.45 tonnes per hectare.Field results showed significant differences (P < 0.05) among sweet potato genotypes and yield at LES and MRS.Mean petiole and vines lengths at LES and MRS under the different treatments.showed significant differences among sweet potato genotypes.Results from LES and MRS showed that growing Melinda using inorganic fertilizers at 0.45 t/ha gave the highest marketable yield of 29.46 and 26.34 t/ha respectively.The results showed relatively similar levels of performance of inorganic fertilizer when compared with cattle manure applications.