Yam (Dioscorea rotundata) performance under irrigation and mulch has not been widely investigated. It is propagated vegetatively, primarily by small whole tubers (seed yams), pieces (setts) cut from larger tubers and vines. However, the use of single node vines for seed yam production remains low due to unavailability of adequate soil moisture and consequential poor vine survival. This study was carried out to investigate the response of vines to irrigation regimes and rice mulch in the dry season. A factorial experiment laid in randomized complete block design with three replications was laid out during the 2020-2021 dry season at Nyankpala. Irrigation regime at (50%, 75% and 100%) crop water requirement (ETc) combined with rice mulch at {No mulch {(NO), 3 t/ha rice straw (RS) and 3 t/ha partially decomposed rice husk (PDRH)}. The soil was sandy loam with bulk density of 1.69 g/cm3. Application of irrigation at 100% ETc and 3 t/ha PDRH recorded the highest yield (18.2 t/ha) and crop water productivity of 3.8 kgm-3 compared with other treatments. Overall, applying 100% ETc with 3 t/ha PDRH is recommended for rooted vine generated seed yam in this agro-ecology in the dry season for efficient water use and adequate yield.

Keywords: seed yam, irrigation, mulch, yam, water use efficiency, yam vines.