Effect of Cow Dung on Soil Properties and Performance of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) in Sudan Savanna, Nigeria

The study was conducted during the 2011/2012 dry season at two locations simultaneously, to evaluate the effect of cow dung rates on some selected soil chemical properties and performance of sweet potato. The trials were conducted at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto vegetable research farm (Kwalkwalawa) and Bakalori irrigation project, Talata Mafara, Zamfara State, Nigeria. The three rates of cow dung were; 3, 2 and1 t/ha which was laid in randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times. The soil properties considered were; soil pH, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, total nitrogen and available phosphorus. Number of vines and leaves per plant, tuber weight and fresh tuber weight were among the growth and yield parameters considered for assessing the sweet potato performance. Result obtained were consistent as per locations, indicating that treatments have no significant effect (P>0.05) on soil properties, while significant (P<0.05) on growth and yield parameters of sweet potato. Application of 3t/h cow dung recorded the highest yield of 18.73t/ha. The result therefore, emphasized that, 3t/ha of cowdung is the best for better sweet potato yield without changes in soil properties.