Batata-doce: adubação, variedades e propagação no Amazonas

Abstract

Sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] is a nutritious food, coming from easy-to-handle cultivation, present in all Brazilian regions, with great socio-economic relevance. However, national productivity is considered low, probably due to the low technological level employed. In this context, it is important to search for agricultural techniques that increase the cost-benefit ratio in the productive activity and that are viable for the family farmer and also represent an alternative to the medium and large rural producer. Production technologies related to propagation and fertilization are great influencers in this relationship. In addition, there are many varieties of sweet potato with different characteristics of color and flavor, but which are not being sold in the Manaus market, and it is important to promote visibility and access to this diversity for farmers and consumers. In this way, the valorization of the product and the conservation of agrobiodiversity will be encouraged. Given the above, the objective of this work was to evaluate the technologies of sweet potato production in terms of fertilization, varieties, and propagation. For this, five doses of chicken manure (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 t.ha-1), with and without liming, were tested, compared to the recommended NPK dose for the crop, from the perspective of economic efficiency, in an experiment with a randomized block design in a split-plot scheme (2 x 5 +1); four varieties were morphologically described (Cenoura, Margarita, Rainha, and Roxa) from the collection of the Experimental Farm of the Federal University of Amazonas; and three cutting sizes (leaf, 15 cm, and 30 cm) were tested for survival and production of the four varieties, in a randomized block design in a split-plot scheme (3 x 4). A dose of 12 t.ha-1 of chicken manure is recommended, without the use of liming, in a very clayey textured soil. of production when choosing to purchase the input directly from the manufacturer, and increase in profit through direct sales to the consumer. In addition to the Rainha (white peel and cream pulp) and Roxa (purple peel and cream pulp) varieties, the Cenoura variety (orange peel and pulp) also has the potential to be cultivated by Amazonian farmers and introduced in the local market. commercial yields of 40,574 t.ha-1, 29,241 t.ha-1 and 22,571 t.ha-1, respectively. It is recommended to propagate sweet potato by 15 cm cuttings, as it represents savings in material and the same effectiveness in terms of field survival and productivity when compared to the 30 cm cuttings (traditionally used). It is noteworthy that it is impracticable to plant leaf cuttings directly in the field.