Effect of Planting and Mulching Materials on Growth and Yield of White Yam (Dioscorea rotundata) in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria

The effect of planting and mulching materials on growth and yield of white yam was evaluated in Ikorodu. White yam head, bottom and seed yam were used as planting materials while cooking banana pseudostem, banana leaves and guinea grass (Panicum maximum) were used as mulching materials and control plot was left unmulched.. Planting and mulching materials had significant effect on days to sprouting, vine length and yield of white yam. Seed yam performed relatively better than head and bottom setts in growth and yield. Grass mulch significantly (P < 0.05) gave higher rate of emergence and had tuber yield greater than the banana pseudostem, leave mulch and the unmulched plots. Irrespective of mulching materials, it was found that mulching significantly (P< 0.05) increased tuber yield than the unmulched yam. Interaction between planting and mulching materials also had a significant effect on days to sprouting, vine length and yield of yam. The control (unmulched) plots performed least amongst the treatments. It could be suggested that banana pseudostem and leaves be chopped, fermented, dried and milled to serve better as mulching material and to improve the physical quality of the soil. It is therefore suggested that more work be conducted on the use of banana pseudostem as mulching material to determine the nutrient composition of the material and the appropriate level for its use.