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.