![]() I deduced from this that harvesting was best done when the spike in dry matter content of leaves was noticed-that is when they started to turn yellow. In the tuber dry matter content increased steadily as they aged until all the leaves decomposed. Dry matter: In the leaves dry matter content increased steadily from four months till six months after planting when the lower leaves started to turn yellow.The aim was to derive an indication of the best time to harvest the tuber. Within this period the dry matter, sugar and starch contents of both the leaves and yam tubers were measured. Harvesting continued until the point at which the foliage started to decompose. Harvesting was done at monthly intervals four months after planting was done and when the vines began to emerge. I conducted my research in 20 but the findings remain relevant. My research involved planting whole seed tubers of various sizes (100 g-300 g) from five local varieties and 15 genotypes of white yam at the beginning of the rainy season. ![]() This would benefit subsistence farmers enormously. It would also ensure that the farmer could use the same plot of land for planting another crop, especially vegetables, before the end of the rainy season to generate more income. It would help improve the food and storage quality of the yam. Harvesting yams at this point would have two major benefits. I established that this happened before the whole leaves started to decompose, some six months after planting had been done in the rainy season. It's as this point that the lower leaves start to turn yellow. I found that the most advantageous time to harvest is when the starch content of the leaf is at minimum levels. In the course of my research, I have found a scientific process that would enable yam farmers to determine the earliest possible time at which harvesting could be done. As a result farmers aren't able to accurately determine the best time to harvest the crop. The challenge, however, is that the onset of maturity in yam is not well understood and the date of harvest often bears no relationship to the functions and activities of the tuber.
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