PRODUCTION

TECHNOLOGY OF
YAM
MATHAN KUMAR R
 Introduction
◦ Scientific name : Dioscorea sp
◦ Family : Dioscoreaceae
◦ Origin:Native to Africa, Asia, and the America
Ch number: polyploid, with 2n = 40

Yam is a tropical tuber crop that is cultivated in Africa, Asia

and South America.After cassava, yam is the second most
important tuber crop in Africa.In West Africa, 50 million tons
are cultivated on about 4 million hectares annually, accounting
for more than 90% of the world's production.
USES
A popular product made from white and yellow yam named ‘Fufu, “Foutou,’ or
‘lyan’ or ‘Pounded yam’ which is usually eaten with different sauces and a
source of animal protein.
‘Ube, “Ubi,’ or ‘Uhi is a product prepared from water yam which is popular in
west African
Medicinal:
◦ It contains abundant amounts of thiocyanate, which is an agent
counteracting sickle cell anemia in humans.
 Species :

White yam (D. Rotundata) and yellow yam (Dioscorea cayennensis)

These are native to Africa and are the most widely cultivated types of
yams in this region.
They can grow large with vines reaching lengths of up to 12m.
◦ The tubers usually weigh between 2.5 and 5 kg each, but can attain
weights of as much as 25 kg.
Water yam (Dioscorea alata)
Also called as ‘winged yam’ or ‘purple yam’
It is perennial, vigorously twining vine with winged stems.
The vines grow to 10m and are freely branching.
The tubers are large with purple flesh.
The plants normally grow for 8-10 months, and then go dormant for
2-4 months.
◦ During dormancy the aerial stems die back.
Lesser yam (Dioscorea esculenta)
It was one among the first yam species cultivated.
It is native to Southeast Asia and is among the most commonly
cultivated species there.
Its vines seldom grow longer than 3 m and the tubers are rather
small.
It is easily prepared and have good flavour.
◦ The small size of the tubers allows for mechanical cultivation
Air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera)
It forms bulbils at the base of the leaves.
The bulbils are more important food product compared with the
tubers.
The name ‘air potato’ is derived from the size of the bulbils
equaling those of potatoes (0.5-2 kg).
Air potato is hardly grown commercially.
◦ But, it is popular in home gardens as it starts yielding after 4
months and continues producing for the entire life of the vine
Sree keerthi

• A high Yielding variety of Greater yam( Dioscorea alata) large sized

tubers, good cooking quality and excellent taste.
It is a clonal selection from germplasm.
They Climb to a height of 4-5 m.
Starch content is 20-22% on fresh weight basis and maturity duration
is 9-10 months.
Average Yield is 25-30 T/Ha.
◦ They are suitable for intercropping with banana and can be grown in
mature coconut gardens.
Sree Shilpa
It is the first hybrid released in Dioscorea alata.
Inter varietal hybrid between Da-140 & Sree Keerthi
Tubers are medium sized, oval and has good cooking quality.
It has cordate leaves with overlapping lobes, lamina slightly cupping, and
petiole purple at both ends.
Swollen oval tubers with white flesh.
Yield potential is 40 t/ ha. And average yield is 28 t/ha.
◦ They are easily harvestable.
Sree Roopa
It is a variety of Greater yam (Dioscorea alata)
Tubers are medium sized and excellent cooking quality.
It is also a clonal selection from germplasm.
Starch content 16-18% and protein 1-2% on fresh weight basis.
◦ Duration is 9-10 months and average yield is 25-30 T / Ha.
Sree Karthika
High yielding greater yam variety
Tubers long, oval with excellent cooking quality.
Maturity period is 9 months
Average yield is 30 T/Ha.
Sree Latha
It is a selection from indigenous germplasm.
They climb to a height of 2.5-3 m.
Duration is 7.5-8 months and average yield is 25 T/ Ha.
Cooking quality fair, non bitter with good flavor and acceptable taste.
◦ Starch content is 24.4% and shelf life of tuber is 2-3 months.
Sree Subhra
It is a selection from the African variety Iwo.
Tubers are brown skinned and partially hairy with cylindrical shape.
They are drought tolerant.
Starch content is 21-23% on fresh weight basis and average yield 35-40 T/Ha.
◦ Duration is 9-10 months.
Sree Priya
A high Yielding variety of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata
It is a seedling selection from the African variety Umidika
Cylindrical tubers and excellent cooking quality.
They are drought tolerant with novel flavoured
Suitable for intercropping in mature coconut gardens as well as with banana
Starch content is 20-21% and protein content is 2-3% on fresh weight basis.
◦ Maturity duration is 9-10 months and average yield is 35 – 40 T/Ha.
Sree Dhanya
A high yielding variety of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) with cylindrical tubers.
It is the first dwarf bushy variety and it does not require staking
It is accommodated in closer spacing.
◦ Duration is 9 months. Average yield is 20 T / Ha.
◦ Botany :
◦ Perennial dioceous
◦ Ec part –corm, under Tuber
◦ Fruit –capsul
◦ Toxic subsent-Dioscorint
◦ Soil&climate
◦ Forest soil,
◦ Season –March ends july
◦ Rainfall- 1000-1200mm
◦ Climate-27c
Tubers
This is the most important method of propagation in the field.
The planting material is called a ‘set’ and the size of each set should be between 400 and
500 g.
There are three types of sets that can be obtained from whole tuber-head sets, middle sets,
and tail sets.
Head sets are the best to plant because of the presence of eyes, which give rise to the new
plants.
◦ Whole small tubers can also be planted
Minisets
Minisets are small pieces of tubers of 25-50 g size that are dipped into a fungicide/insecticide.
The cut surfaces are then allowed to dry before planting to produce seed yams (planting material)
◦ The miniset technique produces both healthy and high- yielding planting material while reducing
costs of seed yam production and improving availability of planting material.
Vine cuttings
Vine cuttings are another way to produce plants that form healthy mini tubers to be used as seed
material.
6- to 8-cm-long basal vine cuttings are dipped into a rooting hormone and placed into a propagating
bin.
If successful, vine cuttings give a high multiplication rate without the use of tubers, which can limit
the costs for planting material.
This method is still poorly adopted by farmers.
◦ However, with the expected simplification of this technology, farmers could apply it in order to
produce healthy seed tubers.
Planting method
When cultivating as monocrop, yam is planted with a spacing of 50-100 cm X 100cm.
In intercropping the distance between yam plants is determined by the number and types of
associated crops.
Yams are planted using four main methods, namely
(1) ridges
(2) mounds
(3) holes
◦ (4) flats
Manures
Apply cattle manure or compost @ 10 t/ha as basal dressing before planting.
A fertilizer dose of 80 kg N, 60 kg P2O5 and 80 kg K20 per hectare in two split doses.
Half dose of N, full dose of phosphorus and half dose of potash are to be applied within a week after
sprouting.
Remaining nitrogen and potash may be applied one month after the first application.
◦ Top dressing of fertilizers should be followed by weeding and earthing up.
Irrigation

At weekly intervals in the initial stage and later at about 10 days interval.

During rainy season no irrigation is needed.

Intercropping.

Intercropping with legumes like cowpea, horsegram, cluster bean and French bean has been found to
smother weeds.

Provide an extra income without adversely affecting the tuber yield and diosgenin content.
Weed management
Weed control is most important during the first 12-16 weeks after planting for seed yam
i.e.
The critical period for table yam is 4-16 weeks after planting.
Weeding is done 3-4 times during the season.
◦ Yield reduction of upto 90% due to heavy weed infestations have been reported.
Harvesting
Yams mature 7-9 months after planting, indicated by the yellowing of the leaves and natural dieback of
the vines.
In order to maximize yield, harvesting must be done when the yam reaches full maturity and before the
soil becomes too dry.
Yields about 20-25t/ha.
◦ Curing
◦ MH-spraying 0.5%prevent After harvest to the sprout
◦ Pest
◦ Anthracnose
◦ Scale