Growth and yield response of sweet potato to nitrogen fertilization in soils of Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Sweet potato (Ipomea batatas L.) yield is low due to nitrogen constraints. This field study evaluated nitrogen fertilization on growth, yield and nutrient content of two sweet potato cultivars grown in soils of Ladysmith. Six nitrogen levels (0, 13, 23, 33, 43 and 53 kg N/ha) and two cultivars as treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Generally, there was a steady increase in growth and yield as N fertilization increased from 0 kg/ha to 53 kg/ha. The interaction between cultivar and N level was significant for sweet potato’s growth and yield. Tuberous roots number per plant was higher in Beauregard (12.00) fertilized with 53 kgN/ha compared to Ndou (8.00) without N. Sweet potato cultivar response to treatment was significant for shoot and tuber nutrient contents. High agronomic yield was observed with high N fertilization (53 kg N/ha) of sweet potato in soils of Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal Province.Agriculture and Animal HealthM. Sc. (Agriculture