Selection of sweetpotato clones for starch or animal feed

S. L. Tan, K. C. Mooi, A. Zaharah, L. S. Cheah and H. H. Tan

Abstract

Nine to ten sweetpotato clones, which had been shortlisted from previous yield trials, were tested against five or six check varieties at five sites over two seasons. The sites, in either MARDI stations or Department of Agriculture stations in Peninsular Malaysia, were representative of potential sweetpotato growing agro-ecologies, namely, mineral soils, bris, sand-tailings and drained peat.Two clones, CN 1826-76 and 192028-13, showed wide adaptability, ranking first or second in fresh and dry root yields at all sites. The highest dry yields of 8.28 t/ha for CN 1826-76 at Rhu Tapai (one of the two bris sites) and 8.62 t/ha for 192028-13 at Kampong Kepayang (sand-tailings site) compare very favourably with the highest reported yields of grain maize (at 5.4–6.6 t/ha). This is an important consideration if sweetpotato is to be used as animal feed. The clones CN 1826-76 and 192028-6 were among those with the highest root dry matter content (30–31%) in all the trials. High dry matter content reflects high starch content. Although the check varieties, Jepun, Gurun Putih Lama and Bukit Naga, were high-yielding and widely adaptable, they are unsuitable as starch or feed varieties because of their much lower dry matter contents.

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