Experimental Agriculture

Table of Contents - 1982 - Volume 18, Issue 01  

Research Article

Liming Needs of Sweet Potato in Malaysian Acid Peat

W. Y. Chewa1 p1, K. T. Josepha1 p2, K. Ramlia1 and A. B. A. Majida1

a1 Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Jalan Kebun, Kelang, Selangor, Malaysia

SUMMARY

In two field experiments, sweet potato showed symptoms of lime deficiency, and consequently produced extremely low DM, at the natural pH of local peat (3.5–3.7). Liming to increase pH remarkably increased tuber and vine dry matter to pH 5.5 and harvest index to pH 3.8, but higher pH values decreased dry matter and harvest index. Tuber and vine yields generally decreased with continuous monocropping, probably because of increasing infestation with weevils (Cylas formicarius) and other pests, and depletion of available nutrients.

(Accepted July 20 1981)

Correspondence:

p1 Present address: Department of Agriculture, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia 4067;

p2 Present address: Geography Department, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.