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.
