Genomics and Applied Biology 2026, Vol.17, No.1, 26-36 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/gab 26 Research Insight Open Access The Influence of Different Ridge Heights on the Expansion of Sweet Potato Tubers and the Rate of Marketable Tubers Shifeng Yang1,2 1 Quzhou Qujiang District Fanshuxiaopu Family Farm, Quzhou, 324019, Zhejiang, China 2 Zhejiang Agronomist College, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: 714286990@qq.com Genomics and Applied Biology, 2026, Vol.17, No.1 doi: 10.5376/gab.2026.17.0003 Received: 25 Dec., 2025 Accepted: 30 Jan., 2026 Published: 17 Feb., 2026 Copyright © 2026 Yang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Yang S.F., 2026, The influence of different ridge heights on the expansion of sweet potato tubers and the rate of marketable tubers, Genomics and Applied Biology, 17(1): 26-36 (doi: 10.5376/gab.2026.17.0003) Abstract In sweet potato ridge cultivation, the height of the ridges is often regarded as a crucial factor. However, its effect varies in different regions and soil conditions. The height of the ridge alters the tightness of the soil, the conditions of air permeability and drainage, as well as the gas exchange at the rhizosphere and the fluctuations of water and temperature. These changes subsequently manifest in the growth of the above-ground part, nutrient accumulation, and the distribution to the tubers. The speed of tuber enlargement, the quality of the tubers, and the rate of commercial tubers also vary. Based on the publicly available literature, local technical regulations, and mechanization standards over the past decade, combined with the test results from typical ecological regions, a relatively consistent trend can be observed: appropriately raising the ridge height is beneficial for drainage and ventilation, reducing CO₂ accumulation at the rhizosphere, and promoting the transport of assimilates to the tubers. However, if the ridge height is too high, especially in dry years, water is prone to loss, often resulting in "strong vines but weak tubers", with inconsistent water supply during the tuber enlargement period, and an increased risk of cracking and deformed tubers. Therefore, in production, it is not advisable to simply pursue high ridges. A comprehensive consideration should be given based on soil texture, rainfall or irrigation conditions, the tuber formation habits of the variety, and the harvesting method. In most regions, a height of 25-35 cm is appropriate, and it should be combined with mulching or drip irrigation and stable water supply in the middle and later stages to more securely increase the rate and efficiency of commercial tubers. Keywords Sweet potato; Ridge height; Tuber enlargement; Rate of commercial tubers; Micro-environment at the rhizosphere 1 Introduction Sweet potatoes are not only a common fresh food crop in China, but also an important raw material for processing and feeding. However, in recent years, the focus of production has shifted from merely "whether there is enough" to the "quality and specifications" of the products. The industrial sector increasingly values uniform specifications and stable product rates, which has also forced the cultivation approach to shift from solely pursuing yield to taking into account both product quality and mechanization compatibility (Laurie et al., 2015). Relevant experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs have repeatedly mentioned improving quality and efficiency and mechanization compatibility in their annual technical opinions. In fact, this signals that sweet potato production is entering a stage where details parameters are being compared. The reason why the ridge height has been repeatedly discussed is that, on the one hand, it raises the cultivation layer, improving drainage and ventilation, which is conducive to the formation of tubers (Kivuva et al., 2015); on the other hand, if the ridge is too high, it is prone to magnify the risks of moisture loss and temperature fluctuations, and the shape and product quality of the tubers are affected instead. Therefore, systematically analyzing the effects of different ridge heights on the expansion of tubers and the rate of commercial tubers can not only explain the common phenomenon of "different tuber shapes for the same variety" in the field, but also provide a basis for determining reasonable ridge types under large-scale and mechanized conditions. Many people consider the ridge height as an operational detail. However, from the perspective of soil, it actually changes the height difference between the ridge surface and the bottom of the furrow first. Once rain falls, how quickly the water drains, how long it takes for the soil to regain air circulation, and whether the root zone gases
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