Response of amorphophallus to irrigation and mulching

Abstract

A study was undertaken in the sandy loam soil of the Agronomic Research Station, Chalakudy during 1933-'84 and 1984'85 to know the response of December January planted amorphophallus to irrigation and mulching. Four irrigation (no irrigation and irrigation at 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 IW/CPE ratios) and four mulching (no mulching and mulching with dried leaves, paddy waste end coir dust) in factorial combinations constituted the treatments. From the results of the study, it was found that amorphophallus planted in December-January has to be irrigated at 0.9 IW/CPE ratio with 50 mm wator through furrows in summer season for higher corm production. It requires about 10 irrigations at an approximate interval of 12 days in non-rainy periods. The study also revealed the importance of mulching with organic waste materials like dried leaves, paddy wasta and coir dust in boosting corm yield in irrigated amorphophallus.