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 of vegetative parts were generally
increased by N and K; while branching of stems and number of tubeis 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
ail the four elements. Application of 100 kg N, 50 kg P20§ anc| 150 kg K20
in conjunction with 600 kg CaO per hectare seems to be most promising for
realising the maximum tuber yield of this variety of tapioca under the conditions
of this experiment.
