Analysis of growth, physiological aspects and yield of elephant foot yam, Amorphophallus campanulatus Roxb Blume cv Gajendra in spice intercropping system under sloppy foothills of Imphal East

An investigation was carried out to study the effect of intercropping spice crops (ginger and turmeric) on growth, physiological aspects and yield of elephant foot yam. Sole crop of elephant foot yam was grown and between the inter-row spaces ginger/turmeric was intercropped in single/double row planting. Spacing of 90 x 90 cm between elephant foot yam and 25 x 25 cm for intercrops was adopted. Growth parameters were recorded from sole crop of elephant foot yam. Maximum fresh weight (918.48 g) and dry weight of the plant (107.68 g) were observed in elephant foot yam with single row turmeric. Superiority in physiological parameters like leaf area index (1.88) and harvest index (47.09%) was recorded in elephant foot yam with single row turmeric and sole crop of elephant foot yam respectively. Remarkable variation was observed in the performance of elephant foot yamspice intercropping system under sloppy foothills of Imphal East.