Studies on the response N, P and K in conjunction with Ca on the growth and yield of tapioca (Manihot utilissima Pohl) var. malayan-4

Abstract

A field experiment to study the response of three graded levels each of nitrogen (50, 100 and 150 kg N/ha), phosphorus (0, 50 and 100 kg P205/ha) potash (100, 150 and 200 kg K20/ha) in conjunction with calcium (0,600 and 1200 kg CaO/ha) on the growth and yield of tapioca var. "Malayan-4" grown in the acid red loam soils of the Agricultural College farm at Vellayani, Trivandrum has shown that the plant height, as well as weight of vegetative parts were generally increased by N and K; while branching of stems and number of tubers were increased by N and Ca application. Higher levels of N, K and Ca were instrumental for increased girth of tubers, while the tuber yield was increased by all the four elements. Application of 100 kg N, 50 kg P205 and 150 kg K20 in conjunction with 600 kg CaO per ha seems to be most promising for realising the maximum tuber yield of this variety of tapioca under the conditions of this experiment.