INFLUENCE OF METOLACHLOR AND WEEDING REGIME ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas L.) AT AFAKA, KADUNA STATE

Field experiment was conducted at the experimental site of crop production technology Department during 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 raining seasons at Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna to study the effects of metolachlor and weeding regime on growth and yield of sweet potato. The experimental treatments consisted of four weeding regimes (3 WAP, 6 WAP, 9 WAP and 12 WAP ) and two rates of metolachlor (3.0 kga.i. and 2.0 kga.i/ha), hoe weeded control, weed free treated plots and weedy check plots. These were factorially combined and laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The result showed that the hoe weeded control plots, weed free treated plots and the plots occupied by the application of metolachlor at 3.0 kga.i/ha plus weeding regime at 3 weeks after planting (WAP) resulted in comparable but significantly higher vine length per plant, significantly higher number of leaves per plant, significantly higher number of roots per plant, significantly higher root weight per plant and significantly higher marketable yield than the other treatments. While the weedy check plots recorded the least significant vine length per plant, least significant number of leaves per plant, least significant number of roots per plant, least significant root weight per plot and least significant marketable yield than all the other treatments. The study therefore recommends that the farmers in Afaka environs are encouraged to use the weed free treated plots, plots treated with metolachlor at 3.0 kga.i./ha plus weeding regime at 3 weeks after planting (WAP) and the hoe weeded control plots to effectively control weeds in sweet potato production.