The Importance of Sweet Potato Cultivation

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 118 views

Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea Batatas L.) are one of the primary food sources that produce carbohydrates, ranking fourth after rice, corn, and cassava. In its cultivation, sweet potatoes have a propagating growth nature and require efficient regulation to ensure optimal production. One way to achieve this is to use growing inhibitors such as paklobutrazol. This study aims to explore the effect of application time and paklobutrazole concentration on the growth and yield of sweet potato plants.

The Importance of Sweet Potato Cultivation

Sweet potatoes are a vital crop for many communities around the world, providing a rich source of carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. They are also a versatile crop, with various varieties suitable for different climates and soil types. However, sweet potato cultivation can be challenging, as it requires careful management to optimize growth and production. The use of growing inhibitors like paklobutrazol can help regulate plant growth, leading to improved yields and reduced crop losses.

Research Methodology

This research was conducted on the land of Marindal II Village, Patumbak District, Medan, with a height of about 25 meters above sea level, taking place from May to September 2016. The research design used was a random group design with two treatment factors. The first factor is the time of giving a paklobutrazol consisting of four levels, namely 21, 28, 35, and 42 days after planting (HST). The second factor is the concentration of paklobutrazol with four levels, which is 0.25 g/l of water; 0.50 g/L water; 0.75 g/L water; and 1.00 g/L water. The parameters observed in this study include plant length, lighteous biomass weight, the number of tubers, tubers per sample, the average weight of tubers, tuber weight per plot, and harvest index.

The Role of Paklobutrazol in Sweet Potato Cultivation

Paklobutrazol is a growing inhibitor that can help regulate plant growth, leading to improved yields and reduced crop losses. It works by inhibiting the production of gibberellins, a hormone that promotes cell elongation and division. By reducing gibberellin production, paklobutrazol can help control plant growth, leading to more compact and productive plants.

Results and Discussion

The results showed that the treatment of the time of paklobutrazol giving a significant effect on observation parameters, especially on litter biomass. With the application of Paklobutrazol, sweet potato plants tend to have a more controlled growth, which has an impact on increasing the weight of litter biomass. It also shows that paklobutrazol functions as a regulator of plant growth that can shorten the vegetative phase and accelerate the generative phase of plants.

From the aspect of Paklobutrazol's concentration, this study found that concentration treatment had a significant effect on the weight of litter biomass and the number of tubers. The increase in the concentration of Paklobutrazol can optimize the amount of tubers produced, which is certainly very influential on the productivity of sweet potato plants.

The interaction between the time of paklobutrazol's administration and concentration also shows a significant effect on the length of the plant at 4 MST (week after planting) and 10 MST, as well as the weight of litter biomass and the number of tubers. This indicates that the combination of application time and dose of Paklobutrazol must be carefully considered to achieve the best results in sweet potato cultivation.

Conclusion

Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the time of application and concentration of Paklobutrazol has a significant effect on the growth and production of sweet potato plants. To increase productivity, the use of paklobutrazol appropriately, both during the time of administration and in concentration, is very important. This finding provides new insights in agricultural practices to maximize the yields of sweet potatoes and can be used as guidelines for farmers in improving their crops.

Implications for Sweet Potato Cultivation

The findings of this study have significant implications for sweet potato cultivation. By using paklobutrazol appropriately, farmers can optimize their yields and reduce crop losses. The study also highlights the importance of considering the interaction between application time and concentration of paklobutrazol to achieve the best results. This knowledge can be used to develop more effective sweet potato cultivation practices, leading to improved productivity and food security.

Future Research Directions

This study provides a foundation for further research on the use of paklobutrazol in sweet potato cultivation. Future studies can explore the effects of different paklobutrazol concentrations and application times on sweet potato growth and production. Additionally, research can be conducted on the use of paklobutrazol in combination with other growth regulators to optimize sweet potato yields.

Recommendations for Farmers

Based on the findings of this study, farmers can benefit from using paklobutrazol in their sweet potato cultivation practices. To achieve the best results, farmers should consider the following recommendations:

Use paklobutrazol at the recommended concentration and application time to optimize sweet potato yields.
Monitor the growth and production of sweet potato plants to adjust the application time and concentration of paklobutrazol as needed.
Consider using paklobutrazol in combination with other growth regulators to optimize sweet potato yields.

By following these recommendations, farmers can improve their sweet potato yields and contribute to food security in their communities.

This article provides answers to frequently asked questions related to the effect of application time and paklobutrazol concentration on growth and production of sweet potato plants.

Q: What is paklobutrazol and how does it affect sweet potato growth?

A: Paklobutrazol is a growing inhibitor that can help regulate plant growth, leading to improved yields and reduced crop losses. It works by inhibiting the production of gibberellins, a hormone that promotes cell elongation and division. By reducing gibberellin production, paklobutrazol can help control plant growth, leading to more compact and productive plants.

Q: What are the benefits of using paklobutrazol in sweet potato cultivation?

A: The benefits of using paklobutrazol in sweet potato cultivation include:

Improved yields: Paklobutrazol can help regulate plant growth, leading to improved yields and reduced crop losses.
Reduced crop losses: Paklobutrazol can help control plant growth, reducing the risk of crop losses due to overgrowth or disease.
Increased productivity: Paklobutrazol can help optimize sweet potato production, leading to increased productivity and food security.

Q: How does the application time of paklobutrazol affect sweet potato growth?

A: The application time of paklobutrazol can have a significant effect on sweet potato growth. The study found that the treatment of the time of paklobutrazol giving a significant effect on observation parameters, especially on litter biomass. With the application of Paklobutrazol, sweet potato plants tend to have a more controlled growth, which has an impact on increasing the weight of litter biomass.

Q: What is the optimal concentration of paklobutrazol for sweet potato cultivation?

A: The optimal concentration of paklobutrazol for sweet potato cultivation depends on various factors, including the specific variety of sweet potato, soil type, and climate. The study found that concentration treatment had a significant effect on the weight of litter biomass and the number of tubers. The increase in the concentration of Paklobutrazol can optimize the amount of tubers produced, which is certainly very influential on the productivity of sweet potato plants.

Q: Can paklobutrazol be used in combination with other growth regulators to optimize sweet potato yields?

A: Yes, paklobutrazol can be used in combination with other growth regulators to optimize sweet potato yields. The study found that the interaction between the time of paklobutrazol's administration and concentration also shows a significant effect on the length of the plant at 4 MST (week after planting) and 10 MST, as well as the weight of litter biomass and the number of tubers.

Q: What are the potential risks associated with using paklobutrazol in sweet potato cultivation?

A: The potential risks associated with using paklobutrazol in sweet potato cultivation include:

Over-regulation of plant growth: Paklobutrazol can over-regulate plant growth, leading to reduced yields and increased crop losses.
Environmental impact: Paklobutrazol can have environmental impacts, including soil and water contamination.
Resistance development: Overuse of paklobutrazol can lead to resistance development in sweet potato plants, reducing its effectiveness.

Q: How can farmers minimize the risks associated with using paklobutrazol in sweet potato cultivation?

A: Farmers can minimize the risks associated with using paklobutrazol in sweet potato cultivation by:

Following recommended application rates and timing.
Monitoring plant growth and adjusting application rates as needed.
Using paklobutrazol in combination with other growth regulators to optimize sweet potato yields.
Implementing integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to reduce the risk of resistance development.

By following these guidelines, farmers can minimize the risks associated with using paklobutrazol in sweet potato cultivation and optimize their yields.