Yam “Kponan” (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) is a popular staple food in Côte d’Ivoire. However, its rapid decay during conservation prevents regular supply of markets. The objective of this study was th...Yam “Kponan” (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) is a popular staple food in Côte d’Ivoire. However, its rapid decay during conservation prevents regular supply of markets. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the impact of field cultivation and conservation practices on some physical quality parameters of “Kponan”. To this end, “Kponan” yam from three production areas (Bondoukou, Bouna, Kouassi-Kouassikro) was cultivated in each area. At maturity, physical parameters of yams at harvest and after 3 months of storage in field were analyzed. The results showed that injury was the most significant deterioration in yam harvest. The rate of injured yams was highest for hoe-harvested in Kouassi-Kouassikro area (16.67% - 22.22%) regardless of the origin of the cuttings. The main damage observed after the 3 months of storage was rots (22.86% - 60.00%) and weight loss (8.57% - 42.86%). However, yams stored in pits in Bouna zone had less damage (40% - 48.87%) than those stored under straw huts in Bondoukou locality (100%) and at shade under a tree in Kouassi-Kouassikro area (100%). In conclusion, the physical quality of “Kponan” in field is most affected by abusive use of herbicides during weeding and clearing, hoe harvesting and storage in the shade under a tree.展开更多
文摘Yam “Kponan” (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) is a popular staple food in Côte d’Ivoire. However, its rapid decay during conservation prevents regular supply of markets. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the impact of field cultivation and conservation practices on some physical quality parameters of “Kponan”. To this end, “Kponan” yam from three production areas (Bondoukou, Bouna, Kouassi-Kouassikro) was cultivated in each area. At maturity, physical parameters of yams at harvest and after 3 months of storage in field were analyzed. The results showed that injury was the most significant deterioration in yam harvest. The rate of injured yams was highest for hoe-harvested in Kouassi-Kouassikro area (16.67% - 22.22%) regardless of the origin of the cuttings. The main damage observed after the 3 months of storage was rots (22.86% - 60.00%) and weight loss (8.57% - 42.86%). However, yams stored in pits in Bouna zone had less damage (40% - 48.87%) than those stored under straw huts in Bondoukou locality (100%) and at shade under a tree in Kouassi-Kouassikro area (100%). In conclusion, the physical quality of “Kponan” in field is most affected by abusive use of herbicides during weeding and clearing, hoe harvesting and storage in the shade under a tree.
