Good evening dear steemians friends, especially my @farms friends, may peace be with us, today I want to share with you the cultivation of yam and its great benefits for our health, I hope this post is beneficial for all.

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The yam is a tropical plant of African and Asian origin, monocotyledonous, of the Dioscoreaceae family, whose reserve organ is a tuber. It is constituted by six genera, among them Dioscorea is the most important with 600 identified species, although only 12 species are edible. The characteristics of the plant change according to the cultivated variety. Those of the genus Dioscorea are generally dioecious, that is, they have only male flowers or only female flowers. In general, the plant is presented as a vine, with aerial tubers also called bulbils and underground tubers. The latter are the useful part and are used both for consumption or as a means of propagation for new crops. ### Yam cultivation: This root and tuber crop should be planted in low regions, with precipitation conditions between 1,200 mm and 1,300 mm per year, and distributed throughout the year. Temperatures between 18 ºC and 34 ºC are required, and as far as its soil must be fertile, deep (more than 0,60 m), loose, without stones, the PH must be between 5.5. - 6.5 and with good water drainage. ![Image2.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWSmVAcvsABqnwB8qfnVGjnwrXSm3YyWm4ASTzFzWy3L1/Image2.png) [Source](https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8527/8554008563_5f6c31f8ee_b.jpg) ### Reproduction of the yam: the small yams of the previous harvest should be kept and the weight should oscillate between 2kgs. It should be kept in a ventilated place. The rhizome or seed is divided into pieces of 100-150 g, which are those that are planted in the soil directly. The seed must be fresh and contain enough area covered by the tuber rind to produce the formation of buds that will originate the aerial stem and contain enough food reserves to sustain the new plant during the first weeks of its vegetative cycle . ### Sowing of the yam: The sowing is done by digging a hole and introducing the seed or rhizome at a distance of 8 to 15 cm, at the defined planting distance. For the sowing of yams we must take into consideration: • That the loamy sandy soil or clay, with excellent fertility, and is removed and with the mound made. • That the soil is free of weeds and that it has humidity (2 or 3 showers and starting rains). ### Stages of development of the yam plant: **Latency:** This phase of the crop is very stable and lasts two to three months. It starts at the end of the harvest; it usually occurs at the same time every year and ends with the beginning of the germination stage. **Vegetative Growth:** This phase lasts 13 weeks and begins with germination. Between the first four to six weeks the seedling develops at the expense of the "seed tuber". The seedling only requires water and adequate temperature to grow; It is not necessary to fertilize before four weeks after germination. The seedling goes to the plant stage, when it becomes independent of the seed, by exhausting the seed reserves and initiating the extraction of the minerals from the soil. During the first two months, the growth of the stem, leaves and petioles is slow; Gradually, the speed increases to reach its maximum development around the fourth or fifth month, which is the end of this phase. **Tuberization:** It begins with the formation and filling of the tubers, and occurs between the fifth and seventh month. During this stage there is a rapid accumulation of dry matter in the tubers. **Senescence:** It starts towards the end of tuberization. It happens from the seventh to the ninth month, and during this all the energy of the plant is transferred to the tuber, the foliage becomes yellowish and dies by old age, drought, diseases or a combination of these factors. At the end of the phase, the tuber develops a protective layer or husk, reduces by respiration the content of dry matter and constitutes the only living part of the plant. ### Pests and diseases that can attack the yam: **Anthracnose:** characterized by the appearance of black spots in the nerves of the leaves and necrosis in the stem. **Nematodes:** they feed on the tubers, damaging them and making them useless for their reproduction. **Rotting of the rhizomes or seeds:** they are produced by fungi. The cultural damages cause this type of infections. The most common genus of fungi is Lasiodiplodia spp. **Phythopthora:** is a disease that affects the inner part of the yam, which shows a healthy appearance despite being contaminated inside. ### Medicinal properties of yam: • It is depurative: It has a quite important cleansing power of the blood, in this way we can cleanse our body of those impurities that can cause us diseases. • It is anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic due to its moderate content of alkaloids and steroids. • Strengthens the defenses: Being a food with enough vitamin C, this vitamin is used to strengthen the antibodies of our body, and thus make them stronger against the invasion of bacteria or germs that penetrate our body through the environment or of food. • Yam is a great source of manganese, a mineral that intervenes in the metabolism of carbohydrates, representing a cofactor at the enzymatic level for the production of energy and the stimulation of antioxidant defenses, for which the yam provides vitality and protection to general health. • Skin care: due to its great contribution of vitamin A helps to take care of our skin and keep it healthy, at the same time that slows the aging process and regenerates damaged cells. • Avoids constipation: due to its high fiber content, it prevents constipation by improving intestinal mobility, but also reduces cholesterol levels in the intestine, promoting heart and brain health, by preventing heart attacks or strokes , to which is added a satiating effect that translates into a reduction of food intake and therefore favors the control of body weight, being indicated for slimming diets. • Helps to eliminate excess liquid: Thanks to its diuretic and depurative qualities, yam is a food widely used to eliminate clots in the blood and also prevent fluid retention. In this way, it is used to combat rheumatism, arthritis, gout. • Help prevent diabetes: The yam is very rich in complex carbohydrates, which provide energy for longer, because the delivery gradually, reducing the speed at which their sugars are absorbed into the bloodstream preventing diabetes. • Prevents cancer: One of the nutritional properties of yam is its vitamin C content. Thanks to this, cell damage is prevented, which helps prevent the possible appearance of cancer. • The wild yam is considered as a stimulator of the organic functions and systems, mainly the renal, as well as the female endocrine, thus relating to two very specific conditions lactation and reduction of symptoms during menopause. • Yam is a natural antispasmodic that helps relax the muscles, property that provides relief from menstrual cramps, as well as labor pains, asthmatic episodes and other conditions that are relieved by muscle relaxation.