Studies on the Site Specific Nutrient Management Practices for Balanced Fertilization in Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: Cassava is an important tuber crop cultivated in Tamil Nadu. Being a long duration crop, judicious application of nutrients is important for getting higher tuber yield. In Tamil Nadu, invariably of the soil nutrient status, the blanket fertilizer recommendation is 90: 90: 240 kg of NPK/ha. A field experiment was conducted at Tapioca and Castor Research Station, Yethapur under AICRP Tuber crops Programme to study the site specific nutrient recommendations for cassava in red non calcareous soil (Typic Rhodustalf, Irrugur series) on the growth, tuber yield and starch content of cassava. The cassava variety Sree Vijaya was planted in ridges and furrows at a spacing of 90 x 75 cm. Based on the initial availability of nutrients, the experiment was planned with six treatments in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four replications. The varying doses of fertilizers was compared with the farmers practice (90:70:280 kg/ha). The final soil sample was collected during the time of harvest of the crop. The results of the experiment revealed that the tallest plants (54.22, 106.97, 142.96 and 187.65 cm) and maximum number of leaves (40.00, 110.00, 132.00 and 119.66) was recorded in 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th months after planting in site specific based nutrient application (115:50:35 kg NPK/ha) respectively. The differential application of nutrients influenced the tuber yield. The mean tuber yield of 36.89 t ha-1 was recorded by the application of 115:50:35 kg NPK/ha. However, the farmers practice (90:70:280 kg/ha) recorded the lowest weight of stem (0.72 kg), weight of tuber (1.35 kg plant-1) and mean tuber yield (13.94 t ha-1). Based on the experimental results, precise and balanced application of fertilizers can be achieved with maximum tuber yield and starch content.
Institution: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3092200338