1Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
2Directorate of Agribusiness Development, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
3Tapioca and Castor Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Yethapur, Salem-636 119, Tamil Nadu, India.
4Nammazhvar Organic Farming Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
5Department of Environmental Science, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Corresponding Author: E. Somasundaram, Directorate of Agribusiness Development, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India. Email: ashokharavind@gmail.com
Cassava is an important tropical tuber crop with great potential, particularly for short-duration varieties. Understanding the impact of nutrient management practices on the growth and yield of cassava is crucial for crop intensification and multiple cropping.
Field experiments were conducted at Tapioca and Castor Research Station, Yethapur, Salem in 2022–2023 to determine the effect of various nutrient management practices on the growth attributes, biomass production, dry matter distribution and yield characteristics of short-duration cassava. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with twelve treatments and three replications.
The integrated nutrient management practice of FYM @ 25 t ha-1 + 100% RDF + cassava booster spray (T10) resulted in higher crop growth, dry matter production, yield attributes, tuber yield and top yield. This was comparable with the organic practice of Wood ash @ 2 t ha-1 + 3% panchagavya foliar spray (T7) among other organic practices. The control treatment with no manures, fertilizers or foliar sprays recorded lower growth and yield. Also, positive correlations between growth and yield attributes with yield was also observed.
Biomass, Cassava booster, Organic production, Panchagavya, Tuber yield
