Husbandry of selected crops

Agricultural science SSS1 First Term

Week 4

Husbandry of selected crops

Performance objectives

Students should be able to:

1. State major husbandry practices

Content

YAM (Dioscorea spp)

Yam belongs to the family of Dioscoreaceae. It is a root and tuber crop popularly grown in West Africa and it is rich in carbohydrates.

Land preparation

Cutlass is used to clear the bush or vegetation and heaps, ridges or mounds are made with a hoe. It can also be done by ploughing, harrowing and ridging mechanically.

Varieties or cultivars

Important varieties include:

1. Dioscorea rotundata- white yam.
2. Dioscorea alata – water yam.
3. Dioscorea bulbifera – aerial yam.
4. Dioscorea cayenesis – yellow yam.
5. Dioscorea domentorum – bitter yam.

Climate and soil requirements:

Yam requires a temperature…