Crop diversification: A solution for food crisis, climate change. Farmer participatory evaluation of sweetpotato varieties in Runyejes, Embu County. Field performance of the varieties

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.(L)) is an important staple food and nutrition crop mainly for rural households in Africa. There is need to promote its production and consumption. Sweetpotato production in Kenya is hampered by shortage of adaptable nutrient dense varieties. Several bio-fortified sweetpotato varieties have been released by the Ministry of agriculture, Livestock and fisheries but have not reached most of the farmers. On-farm participatory varietal trials were conducted to evaluate and select most adaptable and preferred sweetpotato varieties for eventual scaling in Runyejes, Embu counties in Kenya. Five. Sweetpotato varieties namely, TU Purple, Kemb 10, Irene, Kensport 3 and Kensport 4 were evaluated in this trial. About 100 vine cuttings for each variety/plot enough to plant an area of 24m² were planted in 5 rows/20 plants per row at a spacing 25cm by 75cm.These plots were laid out as randomized complete block design replicated three times. At harvest data on vine length, number of branches formed, storage root length(cm), storage root girth(cm), and biomass was collected. Storage root parameters measured include percentage of marketable and non-marketable storage roots, marketable storage root yield, % non-marketable and marketable storage root yield over total storage root yield. Kemb10 produced longer vines(102.2cm) and longer storage roots(18.4cm) and high biomass (7.8t/ha The same variety also recorded the highest marketable storage root yield of 7.1t/ha and Highest percentage of storage marketable root yield (81.7%). More branches were formed by Irene (16.6). Least percentage of marketable storage roots were recorded for Kenspot 3(43.2%) and Kenspot 4 (44.4%). Tu-Purple recorded the least percentage of non-marketable storage roots of 39.2% and a high percentage of storage marketable root yield((76.8%). Kemb10 and Tu-purple varieties are recommended for scaling and adoption.