Performance Evaluation of Improved Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Varieties at Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Filed experiments were conducted during 2013/14 at Chichu and Dilla sites in Southern Ethiopia. The objective of the experiments was to determine and evaluate the growth, yield and quality performance of sweet potato varieties under Dilla and Chichu condition. Treatments comprised of fife different varieties namely Pinno, Gadissa, Algetta, Gassa, and local variety. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. The performance evaluation of different varieties was assessed by analyzing data on vegetative growth, yield and starch content. Results demonstrated that there is significant difference on performance of different sweet potato varieties on vine length, root diameter, yield, root weight, and starch content. Some varieties which had farmer desirable traits like high yield and high starch content were identified for both sites. In this study, the highest yield and quality was achieved by variety Gaddissa. However, in Chichu site variety Gassa was also results comparatively high yield. Similar to Dilla site, in Chichu also high starch content was reported from variety Gaddissa. Climate and soil conditions probably played an important role in variety performances.