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• Influence of time of planting on yam performance and pest infestation in humid rainforest of southwestern Nigeria

  77-84.

  G. A. S. Benson

  K. O. Sanni

  Jacobs Mobolade Adesina

  O. A. Ogunoye

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  Yams (Dioscorea spp.) are annual or perennial tuber-bearing and climbing plants that belong to the family Dioscoreaceae.  Only six principal species are grown for human consumption, while several others are produced for medicinal purposes. This study was designed to determine the influence of time of planting on yam performance and pest infestation in humid rainforest of southwestern Nigeria. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three treatments replicated five times. The planting materials are dipped into wood ash and allowed to dry up. The number of yam setts required for this work is 4 pieces, each of white yam sett, seed yam, and 4 pieces of water yam setts for the different planting times. The planting is done in five (5) phases. In each phase 12 heaps are planted, 4 white yams (seed yam), 4 yam setts (white yam) and 4 water yam setts. No significant difference was observed in 50% sprouting both in treatments and replication. There is significant difference in yield both in treatment and block. Yam planted in April (R5) has the highest yield with 3.7 kg, followed by those planted in ending March (R4) with 2.83 kg, followed by those planted in mid-February (R1) with 1.43 kg, then those planted in February ending (R2) with 1.2 kg and those planted in mid-March (R3) with 1.17 kg respectively. The highest level of destruction was witnessed in white seed yam planted in Mid-March and Mid-April as well as white yam sett planted in Mid-February. The lowest level of destruction was found in water yam sett planted in February ending. Shifting planting date can reduce larval survival and pest populations in yam tuber.

  Keywords: Dioscorea spp., pest infestation, destruction, sprouting, yam performance.