Nutritional requirement of arrow root as pure crop

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in garden lands of Instructional Farm of College of Agriculture, Vellayani, to study the effect of N, P and K on growth, yield and quality of arrow root and uptake pattern of major nutrients. The treatments in the experiment consisted of four levels of nitrogen (0, 50,100 and 150 kg/ha N). Four levels of phosphorus (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg/ha P2O5) and four levels of potassium (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg/ha K2O). The experiment was laid out in 43 partially confounded factorial in RBD with two replications. Different growth attributes like height of plants, number of leaves, number of suckers per plant, leaf area index were maximum at higher levels of nitrogen and potassium. The total drymatter production was highest by the application of 150 kg N. 75 kg P2O5 and 150 kg K2O per hectare. The highest value of rhizome number, length of rhizome and girth of rhizome were obtained by the application of 100 kg/N, 75 kg P2O5 and 150 kg/ha K2O. Maximum mean rhizome weight was with 150 kg n/ha, 75 kg P2O5 and 150 kg K2O per hectare. Fresh weight of plants was maximum with highest levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Rhizome yield was maximum when nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were applied at the rate of 150, 75 and 150 kg/ha respectively. Highest levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium increased the starch, yield and protein content of rhizome. Nitrogen nutrition increased the crude fibre content of rhizome, but potassium application decrease the fibre content. The plant uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was maximum at highest level of these nutrients. Maximum benefits cost ratio and net return were obtained by the application of 150 kg/ha N, 75 kg/ha P2O5 and 150 kg/ha K2O.