KARAKTERISTIK LAHAN DAN KUALITAS KEMANISAN UBI JALAR CILEMBU

The Cilembu sweet potato is the popular food crop from specific location in Sumedang, West Java. Sweetness degree is one of key indicators for this commodity. Sweetness degree relate to sugar content. Currently, Cilembu sweet potato variety was grown by farmers is Rancing. They were local culture on cultivation and storage of Cilembu sweet potato. Study of Cilembu sweet potato based on land characteristics on cultivation location and sweetness quality along storage periods between different cultivation locations is limited. The objectives of this study were to determined influence of land characteristics of cultivation locations and storage periods on sweetness quality of Cilembu sweet potato. Samples were taken from harvested tubers from Cilembu, Rancakalong, Sukasari, Cicalengka, and Jalaksana cultivation location using purposive sampling method. Sweetness degree was measured by total sugar content using luff schoorl method. The experiment design was used split plot design. The experiment room controlled at the same condition. The storage periods was observed at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after harvest. The role of land characteristics on the sweetness quality of Cilembu sweet potato was used analysis of regression and t test for equality of means. The result showed that storage periods was significantly affect the sweetness quality of Cilembu sweet potato, while the cultivation locations did not significant influence on sweetness quality. They were not interaction between both factors. The chemical and physical soil properties, elevation and climate properties affect differences of sweetness quality of Cilembu sweet potato on different cultivation locations