Effect of Different Farming Systems and Soil Management Practices on Nutritional Composition of Sweetpotato Greens

Sweetpotato (SP) [Ipomea batatas (Lam.) L.] storage roots are consumed worldwide as a carbohydrate-rich staple food and are rich in different nutrients. Like storage roots, SP young leaves and stems (SP greens) are also rich in nutrients. As a non-traditional nutrient-rich leafy vegetable, SP greens have seen increased consumption recently as people are more concerned about their health and seek nutrition and health benefits beyond regular food sources. Three SP varieties (Var) were used to evaluate the effects of farming systems (FS) [conventional (C) and organic (O)] and soil management practices (SMP) [with cover crop (CC) and no cover crops (NCC)] on the nutritional composition of SP greens, and their interactions following RCB design with three replications. FS showed significant differences for all nutritional traits, and SMP showed no significant differences for most of them. There were no differences in Var, Var x FS, Var x SMP, and FS x SMP interactions. In the proximate analysis, Crude protein (CP), Crude fiber (CF), Ash, and Carbohydrate (Carb) showed significant differences between the two FS; conventional farming ranked higher. However, Fat was insignificant. Most of the essential minerals, except Iron (Fe) and Zinc (Zn), showed no differences in FS and SMP. Under FS, essential amino acids (AA) showed a significant difference; however, under SMP, only half the traits showed differences. A significant difference in nutrients was observed between conventional and organic cover crops. However, overall differences in nutritional values were also minimal, supporting earlier reports. Generally, organic farming does not improve overall nutritional quality, but it significantly reduces chemical stack and pesticide residues in produce. This study demonstrates that SP greens are rich in nutrients, suitable as an alternative vegetable, and can be cultivated in any farming system and soil management practice.