Taro (Colocasia esculenta) crop is widely grown throughout the humid tropics for its edible leaves, petioles and corms. In this research total dry matter (DM) accumulation and its partitioning between different plant parts were studied to determine their growth pattern over the plants ' life cycle (i.e. 35, 70, 105, 140 and 175 days after planting (DAP). An experiment with randomised complete block design (RCBD) having five treatments (DAP) and three replications (blocks) was setup for each of the two improved taro cultivars (Samoa 1 and Samoa 2). After harvest dry matter of each taro plant was estimated for its five parts: leaf blades, petioles, corms, roots and suckers. The data analysis showed that in both the cultivars the DM accumulation and its partitioning to different plant parts (i.e. the leaf blades (LDM), petioles (PDM), roots (RDM), corms (CDM) and suckers (SDM)) varied significantly (p < 0.001) over the five growth stages of plant growth (DAP).

Information relating to taro cultivation in Trinidad is limited

There is a scarcity of information on the influence of different N sources on the physiology of taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] plants. Hence, this article investigates the effects of controlled release (CR) and fast release (FR) N fertilizers on the growth, development, and yield of taro in Trinidad and Tobago. A factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted. Four N treatments (at 100 kg N ha -1 rate), three harvest dates, and two sites (Mt. Hope and Orange Grove) were the experimental factors examined. The results showed that FR N fertilizers produced optimum taro heights and chlorophyll indices (CI) throughout the growing season. Also, FR N fertilizers produced optimum leaf blade yield (LY) at 2 and 6 months after planting (MAP). At 4 MAP, CR produced optimum LY in Orange Grove whereas FR N fertilizers produced optimum LY in Mt. Hope. Fast release N fertilizers produced optimum petiole yield (PY) throughout the growing season. At 2 MAP, CR and FR N fertilizers produced optimum corms yield (CY) in Mt. Hope and Orange Grove, respectively. At 4 MAP, optimum CY was attained as a result of FR fertilizers whereas CR N fertilizers produced optimum CY at 6 MAP. Therefore, the application of FR fertilizers enhanced LY and PY whereas CR fertilizers produced optimum CY at harvest. Significant at P < 0.01. † Analyses of variance (ANOVA) table reports significance of treatments and their interactions. Different letters in each column indicate least significant differences at P < 0.05 and P < 0.01.