2019 ASHS Annual Conference

An experiment was conducted to observe comparative yields of sweet potatoes grown in four different soils; two biochar-based organic soils (A, B), a commercial organic raised bed soil (C), and a commercial premium potting soil (D). No treatments received supplemental fertilization. Yields of above-ground biomass and harvested sweet potato tubers were recorded. Results showed that the average yields (number of tubers and total mass of tubers) of treatments A and B were significantly greater than those of treatment C. The total mass of tubers of treatment B was also significantly greater than treatment D. There was no significant difference in above-ground biomass between treatments A, B, and D, although they were all marginally greater than treatment C. It appears that in the absence of supplemental fertilization, the use of treatments A and B could result in increased yields, compared to treatments C and D, promoting sustainable crop production and food security.

Keywords: Biochar, sweet potato, organic, trough