Abstract:
Globally, Ipomoea batatas serves as a key crop for ensuring food security, particularly for the lowincome
population. Land scarcity is an inevitable social consequence of urbanization, posing a
challenge for farmers in locating suitable areas for agricultural activities. Polysack cultivation
technique has the potential to enhance food accessibility by efficiently using limited spaces in
urban and rural areas. This study examined the comparative yield analysis of seventeen native I.
batatas accessions with five improved varieties under traditional field method and polysack
cultivation techniques. The experiment was carried out at the field and polysacks at Agriculture
Research Station, Thelijjawila, according to a randomized complete block design with three
replicates. Each replicate consisted of three plots in the field experiment and six sacks using the
polysack method. Harvesting was done three months after planting. TJ1, TJ4, and TJ14 showed an
increased yield in polysack cultivation compared to field cultivation, whereas seventeen
accessions decreased the yield in polysacks. TJ20 and TJ19 recorded the highest significant yield
in the field and polysack cultivation, respectively. TJ11 and TJ1 were the second-best accessions
in polysack cultivation. This study revealed the best I. batatas accessions for the two different
cultivation techniques, providing valuable insights for future agricultural practices.
