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Water yam / Greater yam

Dioscorea alata

A vigorous climbing vine cultivated for its large starchy tuber, an important staple food across the tropics.

Family

Dioscoreaceae

Temperature

20-32°C (absolute 14-40°C)

Rainfall

1200-4000mm (absolute 700-8000mm)

Altitude

2500m

Soil pH

5.5-6.5 (absolute 4.8-8.5)

Soil types

Deep well-drained fertile loamy soils.