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Sweet potato vines |
Sweet potato vines might just be what you need in your livestock feeding program. While most farmers focus on the tubers, the leafy vines are where the value lies especially for livestock farmers. Farmers can transform their feed costs and animal health by making this simple switch. Sweet potato vines aren't just cheap feed—they're actually more nutritious than most expensive concentrates you can buy. Your cows, goats and your chickens will love them. The best part is that you can harvest the same plant multiple times throughout the season. |
Land Preparation
Don't make the mistake of planting sweet potatoes in hard, waterlogged soil. Many farmers lose entire crops because they skipped proper land preparation. Here is what to do:
Start by clearing the shamba of weeds, stones, old crop residue, then break up that soil properly with deep plowing, going down about 20-25 cm. This isn't optional if you want good results.
Next you create raised beds. Make them about 30-45 cm high and roughly 1-1.2 meters wide. Waterlogged sweet potatoes will die, so those furrows between beds will save your crop during heavy rains.
Next add organic manure. You need 2-3 tons per acre of well-rotted manure or compost. Sweet potatoes are heavy feeders, and this investment pays off in vine production.
If using fertilizers, apply nitrogen at 16-24 kg per acre, phosphorus at 24-32 kg per acre, and potassium at 32-40 kg per acre during land prep. Your soil pH should sit between 5.8 and 6.2 for optimal growing conditions.
Sweet Potato Cultivars in Kenya
Not all sweet potatoes are created equal, especially when you're after quality livestock feed.
Go with Msinya (Super Vine K) if you can find it. It produces no tubers at all, which means every bit of energy goes into making protein-rich vines. it has about 21-25% crude protein here. This is competing with most commercial feeds.The problem is availability.
Another good varierty is the Kenspot series from KALRO are solid choices. Kenspot 4 and 5 are advantagious because they give you both good vines and orange-fleshed tubers.
Another variety is SPK 004 that has impressed a lot of farmers I know with its yields, and KC Sweet Purple handles tough weather better than most varieties which is good if you're in a arid climate zone.
Old local varieties like Namnyekera or Bungoma are not the best for livestock unless you have no choice. They are not pest resistant and have poor nutrition compared to improved varieties.
Spacing
For maximum vine production, plant closer than usual. Space your cuttings 30-45 cm apart within rows, with 1-1.2 meters between rows. This might feel crowded, but you want a lot of vines and not just a few large plants.
Use healthy vine cuttings about 20-30 cm long with at least 4-6 nodes. Plant them deep 10-15 cm with two nodes buried in the soil. Those buried nodes will root and anchor your plant.
Do your planting in the early morning or late afternoon. The midday sun will stress your cuttings before they can establish. Keep the soil moist for the first two weeks.watering is very important and should be done every 2-3 days if it is not raining.
Stagger your planting every 3-4 weeks. This gives you fresh vines to harvest throughout the season instead of everything coming ready at once.
Climatic Requirements
Sweet potatoes prefer warm weather but aren't as fussy as some crops. They perform best when temperatures stay between 21-27°C. If it drops below 10°C, they might not grow very well.
The sweet potato vines need at least 90-120 warm days, which isn't a problem in most of Kenya. The plants handle our dry spells pretty well once established, though they grow well with about 750-1000mm of rainfall annually.
They also require to be exposed to full sun. Don't grow sweet potatoes in shaded areas expecting good vine production.
Dealing with Weeds and Pests
Weeds are your biggest enemy in the first 6-8 weeks. Sweet potatoes start slow, and weeds will choke them out if you're not careful. Hand weeding works best during this period. Avoid deep cultivation that might damage developing roots.
Once your sweet potatoes cover the ground, they'll suppress most weeds naturally. Adding mulch around young plants helps with both weed control and moisture retention.
For pests, sweet potato weevil is your main concern. This little pest can destroy entire crops. Crop rotation is your best defense and never plant sweet potatoes in the same spot year after year. Once the pest pressure is a lot, cut your losses and grow the vines in another place in the shamba.
Cutworms can also be a challenge on young plants. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around transplants, and it works well especially if doing the organic farming. For aphids and other soft pests, neem oil every 2-3 weeks does the job without leaving residues in your livestock feed.
If using commercial pesticide, make sure to not use insetcticides with more than 3 days PHI. Although, this should be as a last resort as this is animal feed being grown.
When and How to Harvest
Unlike other crops where you wait months for one harvest, you can cut vines every 4-6 weeks once plants are established.
Your first harvest comes at 60-75 days after planting. Cut the vines about 15-20 cm above ground level and don't scalp the plants. Leave enough leaves for regrowth. You can get 3-4 harvests this way before finally digging tubers. this is if you are growing the tuber variety. Non tuber producing varieties generally grow better and faster as they only put their energy in leaves and vines.
Harvest in the early morning when plants are full of moisture. Avoid midday cutting when plants are stressed from heat.
Different animals prefer different vine stages. Cattle do best with vines around 45-60 cm long when they are tender but substantial. Goats and sheep can handle slightly older vines up to 75 cm. Pigs are picky and want tender 38-50 cm vines. Chickens prefer the young tips and leaves.
Nutritional Value
Fresh sweet potato vines contain 12-18% crude protein on a dry matter basis. That's better than most pasture grasses and competitive with expensive concentrates.
The protein quality is excellent too, with good amino acid profiles including lysine and methionine that animals need. Calcium content runs 1.2-1.8%, which is great for dairy cows and growing animals.
You're also getting plenty of beta-carotene (converts to Vitamin A), Vitamin C, and B vitamins. The 3:1 calcium-to-phosphorus ratio supports proper bone development and metabolism.
Fresh vines are 80-85% water, making them very palatable. Digestibility ranges from 65-75% depending on harvest timing.That is why vines should be cut at the right stage.
Costs per acre:
- Land preparation: Kes 15,000-20,000
- Planting material: Kes 10,000-15,000
- Fertilizers: Kes 12,000-18,000
- Labor: Kes 20,000-30,000
- Irrigation/maintenance: Kes 8,000-12,000
Total: Kes 65,000-95,000(est)
Output
- Fresh vine yield: 15-25 tons per acre per season
- Current market value: Kes 6,000-8,000 per ton, if selling.
Compared this to alternatives. Alfalfa establishment may cost less per acre and doesn't give you the flexibility of multiple harvests. Maize silage only provides 8-10% protein compared to sweet potato vines' 12-18%. Napier grass gives you bulk but poor protein at 6-10%.
Conclusion
After feeding the livestock, you can also get tubers for additional income or feed. Your animals will be healthier, milk production often increases, and you'll likely have few veterinary bills.
Smart farmers don't just sell the vines. You're getting tubers too, which can be Kes 30,000-50,000 per acre depending on variety and market conditions.
Sweet potato vines can replace 30-50% of expensive concentrates in your livestock rations. If you're buying commercial feeds, those savings substantial.
The improved animal nutrition often leads to better reproductive performance, higher milk yields in dairy animals, and faster weight gains. These indirect benefits add significant value to your operation.
Success with sweet potato vines isn't complicated, but it requires attention to detail. Get your land preparation right, choose appropriate varieties, maintain proper spacing, and harvest at optimal stages.
The key is thinking of this as a continuous production system rather than a once-off harvest. With proper management, you'll have high-quality livestock feed available throughout most of the year while building soil fertility and generating multiple income streams.
Whether you're a small-scale farmer looking to reduce feed costs or running a larger operation seeking profitable diversification, sweet potato vines offer a proven path to better livestock nutrition and improved farm economics. The numbers don't lie, and neither do the animals, as they perform better on nutritious feed.