Effect of indigenous storage method on performance of taro [Colocasia esculenta(L.) Schott] under field conditions in a warm subtropical area

Abstract

Successful crop stand establishment, a critical prerequisite for efficient crop production, is primarily determined by propagule quality. Taro [C%casia escu/enta (L.) Schott] corms of different sizes (80-100 g corm-1 , 40-60 g corm-1 and 20-30 9 corm-1 ) that had been stored in soil pits at different depths (10,20,30,40 and 50 cm) were compared for stand establishment, leaf area and yield during two seasons, under rainfed (upland) conditions. Propagule size and pre-planting storage depth increased both the number of plants reaching the third leaf stage and leaf area per plant one month after planting. The large propagules improved stand establishment and yield significantly (P<0.01) better than the smaller propagules. For a" propagule sizes, the optimum storage depth to enhance taro propagule performance for crop production was -40 cm. When the large propagules were compared with the smaller propagules at the optimum pre-planting storage depth, there was 10% to 30%, no difference and 5% to 35% improvement il') leaf area, stand establishment and yield, respectively. This study confirmed the potential role of local knowledge in traditional agriculture, and the findings can be used to extend the planting season for dryland taro production in South Africa.

Comparative Growth and Yield of Taro (Colocasia esculenta) Accessions Cultivated in the Western Cape, South Africa

“…antiquorum were evaluated (Mitra and Tarafdar, 2015). In like manner, the cormel yield in the current study is consistent with the findings of the study carried out in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where 70-85% of the cormel yields were of unmarketable sizes due to the small propagules (5-60 g) used to raise the plants (Modi, 2007). The values obtained for cormel yield in this investigation were slightly lower than the mean value of 12.47 t/ha reported by Mitra and Tarafdar (2015) for different Indian landraces of C. esculenta var.…”

“…In a different field crop variety, Khalafalla (2001) supported the findings of the current study where it was reported that seed tuber size of potato (whole, half and farmer's seed piece) influenced the weight of the marketable tubers. Modi (2007) also reported that crop stand establishment was significantly lowered by the planting of smaller propagules of taro compared with the medium and large propagules and this in turn determines the yield. Hence, the yield of plants grown from large propagules was significantly greater than that harvested from plants grown from smaller propagules.…”

“…This study therefore aims to: (1) Assess the suitability of cultivating C. esculenta under the Western Cape agroclimatic conditions, and (2) Identify the best yielding accessions amongst the six used in the study. (Modi, 2007;Mare, 2009).…”

Watermelon landrace seedling establishment and field performance in response to differing water regimes

“…For thousands of years, the indigenous people of South Africa relied heavily on the gathering of edible plants for survival (Fox and Norwood, 1982). Many social studies of the life and customs of the black tribes of Southern Africa have been undertaken since the early 1900s but there have been few records of how the indigenous crops respond to agronomic management practices (Modi, 2007a). However, evidence for the role of wild vegetables in food security has been shown elsewhere in Africa (Uusika et al, 2010).…”

Seed quality and water use characteristics of maize landraces compared with selected commercial hybrids

“…The environment in the growth tunnels is not fully controlled. However, temperatures (~ 18/33 °C day/night) and relative humidity (60% to 80%) in the tunnels are designed to resemble those of a warm subtropical climate (Modi, 2007). Temperature, relative humidity, and light in the tunnels were monitored with a HOBOnode logger (Onset Computer Corporation, Bourne, Massachusetts, USA).…”