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TUBER
INFORMATION
AMORPHOPHALLUS
(Amorphophallus paeoniifolius)
Amorphophallus
belongs to the family Araceae.
Amorphophallus requires fairly long growing season and
a rainfall of about 150 cm during the crop period. A well-drained
soil of medium texture is suited for this crop.
Season
Corm
pieces are normally planted during February-March, before
the onset of monsoon.
Sree
Padma: The crop matures in 8-9 months. Cooked tubers are
free from acridity
Seeds
and sowing
Tuber
cut-pieces weighing about 1 kg are ideal for planting.
Dip the pieces in cowdung slurry and allow to dry under
shade before planting. After planting, cover the pit
with dried leaves or other mulching materials. About
12,000 cut pieces weighing about 12 t are required for
planting one hectare. Most of the seed material will
germinate within one month after planting. Mealy bugs
usually attack the corm in field and store. Avoid planting
corms already infested. As a prophylaxis, dip the planting
material in monocrotophos 0.02% for 10 minutes.
Preparation
of land
Dig
pits of 60 x 60 x 45 cm size 90 cm apart. Collect the
topsoil to a depth of 15-20 cm separately and fill it
after the pits are formed. Apply cowdung or compost
at 2-2.5 kg/pit and mix with topsoil.
Minisett planting
Planting
of minisett transplant and cormels gives better yield
than traditional method. Cormels weighing 75-100 g each
can be planted directly in nursery beds at a spacing
of 90 x 30 cm.
Apply
full dose of P2O5 and half the dose N and K2O (N:P2O5:K2O
@ 50:50:75 kg/ha) after forty five days of planting along
with intercultivation and weeding. Apply second dose of
fertilizers (N and K2O @ 50:75 kg/ha) one month after
the first application along with intercultivation and
earthing up.
The
crop will be ready for harvest 8-9 months after planting
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