Effect of Spraying with Benzyl Adenine and Potassium on the Growth, Yield and Quality of Sweet Potato

Abstract A field experiment was conducted in one of the fields affiliated with the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences/University of Baghdad. The experiment included two factors: the first factor, benzyl adenine, at three concentrations: 0, 1, and 2 g.L -1 , and the second factor was spraying with potassium chloride at two concentrations: 0 and 10 g.L -1 . The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D) with three replications. The results were analyzed statistically according to the Genstat program, and the arithmetic means of all studied traits were compared according to the least significant difference (L.S.D) test at the 5% probability level. The results showed that the spraying treatment with benzyl adenine at a concentration of 2 g.L -1 was excelled in increasing the plant height and the length of the leaf stalk, which reached 224.2 cm and 25.44 cm, respectively, and in increasing the dry matter in the plant, the chlorophyll content, the number of tubers, and the total plant yield, which reached 1454 g and 54.80 mg. 100 g fresh weight -1 and 3.00 root tubers. Plant -1 and 612 g. Plant -1 , respectively. The spraying treatment of 10 g.L -1 with potassium chloride also affected the increase in plant dry matter, chlorophyll content, and plant yield, reaching 1307 g and 50.13 mg. 100 g fresh weight -1 and 650 g. plant -1 , respectively. As for qualitative yield indicators, spraying treatment with benzyl adenine at a concentration of 1 g.L -1 increased the percentage of total soluble solids and the content of beta-carotene pigment and carbohydrates in the tuber roots, reaching 10.55%, 0.377 mg.100 ml -1 , and 18.16%. The concentration of 10 g.L -1 of potassium chloride increased the content of lycopene and carbohydrates in the tuber roots, reaching 0.132 mg.100 ml -1 and 16.64%, respectively, as evidenced by the results of bilateral interaction of the studied factors, indicating a significant increase for most of the traits mentioned above.