Abstract:
This study investigate the relationship between the sweet potatoes' biomass and beta-carotene content in relation to the consumption of the sweet potatoes by both human beings and Animals across a specified number of varieties of the plant. Generally, the most nutritious variety is one whose beta carotene content is high hence making the variety most suitable as a source of nutrient for human beings. Those varieties with lower beta carotene content are considered as a cheap source of animal feeds. Also higher biomass of the sweet potato plant is a determining factor if the resulting variety can be used as animal feed. Therefore by taking the association between the amount of sweet potatoes biomas and carotene content in the various varieties under consideration, a generalize conclusion shall be arrived at as to which class of varieties are to meet human nutritious needs and which of them are to be for animal feed.
A variety with low level of beta carotene and but high biomass can be used as a source of animal feed since the leaves and roots are in large quantities yet nutrients are minimal. On the other hand, a variety with high level of beta carotene and with low biomass can be used as a source of food for human beings. The varieties with both low levels of beta carotene and low biomass can be discouraged from planting since it yields very minimal benefits for either human consumption or animal consumption.
Therefore, there is need to a certain the association between biomass level and beta-carotene content to a variety of the sweet potatoes which will have yielded roots with a higher biomass and those which would yield roots with low biomass, as well as in relation to the level of beta carotene in each of the varieties. The study is expected to provide a basis of reason in advising farmers and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service on what specific species of the sweet potatoes they should plant for what purpose be it human consumption or animal consumption. The varieties under study will consist of samples provided by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service. A sample of 24 different varieties will be considered. They will be studied as planted using the random complete block design.
