Tillage and nutrition for productivity enhancement in tannia (Xanthosoma sagittifolium"(L.) schott)
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Date
2017
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Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani
Abstract
An investigation entitled ‘Tillage and nutrition for productivity enhancement in tannia (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott)’ was undertaken at College of Agriculture, Vellayani to identify ideal tillage system for productivity enhancement in tannia, to study the effect of soil conditioners and to compare the effects of integrated and organic nutrition on growth, yield and quality of tannia and to work out the economics of cultivation. The field experiments were conducted in the Instructional Farm attached to College of Agriculture, Vellayani from August 2014 to May 2015 and repeated during May 2015 to February 2016. The field experiment was laid out in split plot design with 24 treatment combinations and four replications. The main plot treatments consisted of four tillage systems (l1- conventional tillage followed by pit system, l2- conventional tillage followed by mound system, l3- deep tillage followed by pit system and l4- deep tillage followed by mound system) and sub plot treatments were combinations of two soil conditioners along with a control (s1- control, s2- coir pith @ 500 g plant-1 and s3- rice husk @ 500 g plant-1) and two nutrient management practices (n1- integrated nutrient management (INM) – FYM @ 25 t ha-1 + 80:50:150 kg NPK ha-1 and n2- organic nutrition- FYM @ 37.5 t ha-1 + wood ash @ 2 t ha-1).In the case of INM, half the quantity of FYM and full P were applied as basal dose and remaining FYM and full N and K were applied in three equal splits each at two, four and six months after planting along with interculture and earthing up. For organic nutrition, 2/3rd quantity of FYM was given as basal dose and remaining FYM and wood ash were given in three equal splits each at two, four and six months after planting along with interculture and earthing up. Dolomite @ 1 t ha-1 was applied uniformly to all plots at land preparation. Growth characters like plant height, leaf number plant-1and leaf area index were improved by deep tillage followed by pit system of planting. Application of coir pith as soil conditioner profoundly influenced growth characters. Organic nutrition was found superior to INM in improving growth characters. Yield components like cormel number plant-1, cormel and corm yield plant-1 and cormel: corm ratio were significantly higher due to deep tillage followed by pit system of planting. Application of coir pith as soil conditioner registered significantly higher values of yield components. Organic nutrition proved its superiority over INM in influencing the yield components. Cormel yield was found to be significantly and positively correlated with leaf area index at five months after planting, cormel number plant-1 and cormel : corm ratio. Significantly higher cormel yield (5.15 t ha-1) and corm yield (7.73 t ha-1) were obtained due to deep tillage followed by pit system. Deep tillage resulted in 24 per cent increase in yield over conventional tillage and pit system of planting registered 28 per cent increase in yield over mound system. Coirpith as soil conditioner resulted in higher cormel yield of 4.51 t ha-1 (11 per cent increase in yield over control) and corm yield of 6.99 t ha-1. Organic nutrition significantly improved cormel yield (4.52 t ha-1 which was 12 per cent higher than due to INM) and corm yield (7.07 t ha-1) compared to INM. Pooled analysis indicated that interaction of deep tillage followed by pit system with coir pith as soil conditioner and organic nutrition (l3s2n2) recorded the highest cormel yield (5.77 t ha-1) and the same treatment, but with rice husk as soil conditioner (l3s3n2) recorded the highest corm yield (8.3 t ha-1). Deep tillage followed by pit system, application of coir pith as soil conditioner and organic nutrition compared to INM recorded significantly higher dry matter production and harvest index. Quality characters of cormel like dry matter, starch and protein contents were improved due to deep tillage followed by pit system among tillage systems, application of coir pith as soil conditioner and organic nutrition compared to INM. In general, a shelf life of one month for cormel was observed without any microbial decay, sprouting and appreciable physiological loss in weight. Higher uptake of N, P and K were noticed due to deep tillage followed by pit system. Coir pith as soil conditioner proved its superiority in enhancing nutrient uptake. Uptake of nutrients was significantly higher under organic nutrition than under INM. Tillage systems, soil conditioners and organic nutrition profoundly influenced the physico-chemical properties of the soil after the experiment. Bulk density was lowered and porosity and water holding capacity were improved due to deep tillage, application of rice husk as soil conditioner and organic nutrition. Correlation study revealed significant and negative correlation of yield with bulk density and significant and positive correlation with porosity and water holding capacity of the soil. Organic nutrition resulted in significantly higher status of organic carbon and available N, P and K in the soil compared to INM. Significantly higher net income and benefit cost ratio could be realized due to deep tillage followed by pit system among tillage systems, application of coir pith as soil conditioner and organic nutrition compared to INM. Considering interaction effects, deep tillage followed by pit system without soil conditioner under organic nutrition (l3s1n2) registered higher net income and benefit cost ratio. It is evident from the present study that deep tillage to a depth of 30 cm followed by pit system of planting is ideal for productivity enhancement in tannia. Application of coir pith as soil conditioner and organic nutrition improved the growth, yield and quality of tannia.Deep tillage followed by pit system and organic nutrition (FYM @37.5 t ha-1 + wood ash @ 2 t ha-1) can be recommended for economic production of tannia. Wherever coir pith or rice husk is available at a cheaper rate, it can be applied as soil conditioner @ 500 g plant-1 for enhanced productivity of tannia.
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Ph.D
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