NUTRIENT COMPOSITION OF SWEET-POTATO STORAGE ROOTS ALTERED BY FREQUENCY OF NUTRIENT SOLUTION CHANGE

The sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] breeding clone TU-82-155 wa s grown during Spring 1990 and Summer 1991 in standard Tuskegee Univ. (Alabama) growth channels (0.15 x 0.15 x 1.2 m) for 120 days in a gree nhouse using a hydroponic (nutrient film) system with a modified half- strength Hoagland nutrient solution. The nutrient solution was changed every 2,14, or 28 days. Total N, oil, ash, amino acid, vitamin, and m ineral concentrations in storage roots generally were higher and dry w eight and starch concentration were lower with 2-day solution changes than with those less frequent.