FIELD PERFORMANCE OF SEED YAM (Dioscorea rotundata Poir) PRODUCED USING LEAF-BUD CUTTINGS AND HYDROPONIC SUBSTRATES

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a staple crop in West Africa, yet high seed yam costs, low multiplication rates, and disease susceptibility in traditional propagation methods hinder its productivity. This study evaluated the field performance of Asiedu and Kpamyo seed yams produced from leaf-bud cuttings (LBCs) grown in hydroponic substrates in a screenhouse. The hydroponics substrates were cocopeat (COP), carbonised rice husk (CRH), fermented rice husk (FRH), sandponics (RSD), and topsoil (TPS) as a control. A 2×5 factorial experiment arranged in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications was conducted at IITA Abuja during the 2021 and 2022 cropping seasons. Growth and yield parameters, including % establishment, days to 50% establishment, vine length, leaf area index, chlorophyll content, tuber yield, and sett multiplication ratio (SMR), were collected and analysed. Results showed a per cent field establishment of over 90.0% for both varieties. Kpamyo significantly (p≤0.05) outperformed Asiedu in most vegetative traits measured, and Kpamyo’s yield (25.3 t/ha) was 17.7% more than that of Asiedu (21.5 t/ha). FRH and COP significantly (p≤0.05) improved all vegetative and yield traits. FRH consistently supported superior growth, yielding up to 28.7 t/ha for Kpamyo. Fresh tuber yield positively correlated with vegetative parameters, showing the importance of early growth and development. Although TPS had lower yields, it recorded the highest SMR (62.9). Dry matter content was higher in Asiedu (31.6%) than in Kpamyo (30.4%). The findings prove that seed yams produced from LBCs and hydroponics, especially in FRH, are good planting materials and capable of producing high yields.