Vol. 10, Issue 12 (2021)

Author(s):
Limisha NP, Rajasree G and Sheeba Rebecca Isaac

Abstract:
An experiment was undertaken at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala to study the effect of organic nutrition on growth and dry matter yield of taro over two seasons during June 2019 to January 2020 and June 2020 to January 2021. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The treatments comprised of six levels of organic sources ( s₁- FYM + wood ash; s₂- FYM + wood ash +PGPR- I; s₃- FYM + wood ash + PGPR- I + vermiwash; s₄- Poultry manure + wood ash; s₅- Poultry manure + wood ash + PGPR- I; s₆- Poultry manure + wood ash + PGPR- I + vermiwash) and two levels of in situ green manuring ( g₁- in situ green manuring with cowpea; g₂- in situ green manuring with daincha) with three control (c₁- Nutrient management through chemical fertilizers as per KAU POP (80 : 25: 100 kg ha^-1); c₂ - Nutrient management as per KAU organic POP (Adhoc); c_{3 -} Absolute control). During both the years, the highest leaf area was recorded with application of poultry manure along with wood ash, PGPR mix I and vermiwash (s₆). Dry matter production was also the highest for the organic source s₆ during both the years. In situ green manuring with daincha (g₂) was found superior to cow pea in producing higher leaf area per plant and total dry matter production during both the years. The treatment s₆g₂ was found equally effective as chemical nutrient management and superior to existing Adhoc organic management of KAU and absolute control in case of both growth parameter and dry matter production. Based on the results of the study it can be concluded that the organic nutrition involving application of poultry manure, wood ash along with PGPR mix I, vermiwash and in situ green manuring with diancha can be adopted for organic cultivation of taro.