Effect of Foliar Nutrition and Vine Top Harvesting in Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) for Growth, Vine Top and Tuber Yield

A field experiment was conducted at Farming Systems Research Station, Sadanandapuram, Kerala Agricultural University, Kerala, India during rabi 2022 with 12 treatments replicated thrice in randomised block design. Treatments included 2 factors, factor A having foliar nutrition (urea 2 %, multi-micronutrient mixture 0.5%, combination of urea 2% + micronutrient mixture 0.5%, and control). Factor B vine harvesting time (30, 45 DAP and control). The results showed that foliar application of 2% urea followed by 0.5 % multi micronutrient mixture registered significant highest growth attributes (vine length, number of branches, dry matter production), yield attributes, tuber and vine top yield. In case of time of vine top harvesting indicated that vine top harvest at 45 DAP gave the higher tuber and vine top yield and it was on par with vine harvesting time at 30 DAP. No leaf harvesting recorded the lowest tuber yield.