Growth Characters and Yield of Taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] as Influenced by Organic Nutrient Management

N. P. LIMISHA; G. RAJASREE; SHEEBA REBECCA ISAAC

doi:10.54894/JISCAR.40.2.2022.117105

Authors

N. P. LIMISHA College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani Thiruvananthapuram - 695 522, Kerala, India
G. RAJASREE College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani Thiruvananthapuram - 695 522, Kerala, India
SHEEBA REBECCA ISAAC College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani Thiruvananthapuram - 695 522, Kerala, India

https://doi.org/10.54894/JISCAR.40.2.2022.117105

Keywords:

Colocasia, Green manuring, Growth attributes, Organic nutrition, Vermiwash

Abstract

An experiment was undertaken at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala to study the effect of organic nutrition on growth attributes and yield of taro during 2019-20 to 2020-21. The treatments comprised six levels of organic sources (S₁- FYM + wood ash; S₂- FYM + wood ash + PGPR mix I; S₃- FYM + wood ash + PGPR mix I + vermiwash; S₄- Poultry manure + wood ash; S₅- Poultry manure + wood ash + PGPR mix I; S₆- Poultry manure + wood ash + PGPR mix I + vermiwash) and two levels of in-situ green manuring (G₁- in-situ green manuring with cowpea; G₂- in-situ green manuring with dhaincha ) with three controls (C₁- Nutrient management through chemical fertilizers as per KAU PoP (80:25:100 kg NPK ha^-1); C₂- Nutrient management as per KAU organic PoP (Adhoc); C₃ - Absolute control). During both years, the highest plant height was recorded with application of poultry manure along with wood ash, PGPR-mix I and vermiwash (S₆) at all stages of crop growth. Cormel yield was also the highest for the organic source S₆ during both years. In-situ green manuring with dhaincha (G₂) was found superior to cowpea in producing taller plants, more leaves per plant and cormel yield during both years. The treatment S₆G₂ was found equally effective as chemical nutrient management and superior to existing Adhoc organic management of KAU and absolute control in case of both growth parameters and yield. Based on the results of the study it can be concluded that organic nutrition involving the application of poultry manure, wood ash along with PGPR mix I, vermiwash and in situ green manuring with dhiancha can be adopted for organic cultivation of taro.

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