Augmentation of physiological and quality parameters of taro (Colocasia esculenta L.) Schott) through organic manures

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during February -August 2020 at Kollakudi village, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India to find the influences of organic manures on physiological and quality parameters of taro variety Sree Rashmi. The experiment was laid out in the randomized block design with nine treatments replicated thrice. Organic manures opted for the study include vermicompost, farm yard manure, phosphobacteria, neem oil cake applied in basal form, effective microorganisms, panchagavya, seaweed extract wassoil drenched on the day of sowing, 30th and 60thdays after sowing as per the treatment. The total cormel yield/ plant(618.94 g), total cormel yield / plot (24.13 kg), dry matter production (48.45 tha-1), total starch (9.88%), total sugar (1.89%), total folate (24.12 μg/100g) were found to be maximum with RDF+ vermicompost (5t ha-1) + sea weed extract (5ml/ litre) + phosphobacteria (2 kg ha-1) . Among the organic manures, combined application of sea weed extract, vermicompost and phosphobacteria proved to be superior to others in respect of quality and physiological parameters. The minimum values of all these characters were recorded under control.