Effect of Soil Amendments and Nutrient Management on Growth and Growth Attributes of Tannia (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott) in the South-Central Laterites (AEU 9) of Kerala, India

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the effect of soil amendments and nutrient management on growth and growth attributes of tannia during the period from Feb-Dec 2021 in a farmer’s field (AEU 9) at Kollam district. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with 13 treatments (4 x 3 + 1) and three replications. The treatments included soil amendments [a1: Dolomite (80 g plant-1), a2: Phosphogypsum (50 g plant-1), a3: Compost (1kg plant-1) + dolomite, and a4 : Compost (1kg plant-1) + phosphogypsum ] and nutrient management [n1: RDN + borax (10 kg ha-1) at 4 MAP + solubor (0.1%) at 5, 6 and 7 MAP, n2: RDN + ZnSO4 (20 kg ha-1) at 4 MAP + ZnSO4 (1%) at 5, 6 and 7 MAP and n3: RDN + borax (10 kg ha-1) + ZnSO4 (20 kg ha-1) at 4 MAP + solubor (0.1%) + ZnSO4 (1%) at 5,6 and 7 MAP] and control (KAU POP). The soil was sandy loam in texture, strongly acidic in reaction (surface soil-5.45 and sub soil-5.05). Cormel pieces (100 g) of local variety planted with a spacing of 90 x 90 cm. The plant height and number of leaves per plant increased up to 6 MAP, and after that it declined in all the treatments up to harvest. The treatment a4 and n3 resulted in the tallest plants (114.37 cm and 100.06 cm) with more number of leaves per plant (8.34 and 7.20) at 6 MAP. The treatment combination a4n3 recorded higher dry matter production (4.92 t ha-1) which was on par with a4n2, a3n3, and a4n1 and found superior to KAU POP. Subsoil acidity is the most chemical impediment in tuber development. Therefore, improving acidic soil with the right amendments and nutrients was essential for tannia’s growth and development.