Fertilizer recommendation

(a) High yielding varieties of 10 - 11 months duration yielding 30-35T/Ha
Farmyard manure 12.5T/Ha. 100:50:100 Kg NPK / Ha.
(b) High yielding varieties of 6-7 months duration yielding 25-30T/Ha
Farmyard manure 12.5T/Ha.;75:50:75 Kg NPK / Ha.
(c) Local varieties( 20-25 T/Ha)
Farmyard manure 12.5T/Ha.;50:25:50 Kg NPK / Ha.

Irrigation schedule

Supplementary irrigation at IW:CPE(Irrigationwater/ Cumulative pan evaporation) ratio of 0.70 during drought spell was beneficial in maximising productivity.

Intercropping

Short duration legumes like bunchy varieties of groundnut and vegetable cowpea are found ideal. Intercrop is dibbled while cassava is planted.

Rice-Cassava crop sequence

First crop rice( June to Sept ) is raised as rainfed crop. Then short duration cassava is grown. This is practised when there is no assured source of irrigation. Cassava is harvested in April

Shoot number

Retain only two shoots in opposite direction by removing the excess ones at 30 days after planting along with intercultural operations.

Intercultural operations

First intercultural operation at 30-45 days after planting and the second one at one month after the first intercultural operation followed by earthing up.

Rapid test for Cyanogen determination

(For mainland of 1 ha nursery area of 5 gm Picric acid and 25 gm Sodium carbonate are dissolved in 1 litre of water. Filter paper is dipped into it. Then it is air-dried. Then it is cut into 2x20 cm strips. 1gm tuber is crushed in 25 ml water and put into 500 ml conical flask. Strip is hung from the stopper of the flask. Keep it overnight. Colour develops in the paper. Based on intensity of colour, content of HCN can be determined. Strip is cut into pieces and dipped in conical flask with 60 ml water. This is estimated calorimetrically by using green filter (625 nm wave length)

Special practices

a) Upland condition

Planting: In the main field during June-July and in the nursery during March to May.
When there is no other source of irrigation this is the only possible method.

b)Lowland condition

Planting: during Jan- Feb, after the secondcrop of rice or after the harvest of tobacco. This helps to utilise the residual moisture after the second crop of rice and the organic matter and compost left by tobacco. Vine cuttings of 20 -30 cm length from the middle and top of the vines are planted in the field. Spacing in the mainfield is 60X20 cm. Plant population is 83000 / ha. Farmyard manure @ 5 T / Ha. NPK @50:25:50 Kg / ha.

• Best time for planting Coleus is July to October. Among this the best period is Aug/Sept. Duration of the crop is 5 .5 months. It is Season bound under tropical conditions.



Mini sett technology for Yams

Setts of size 30 gm are planted in nursery. In the nursery plants remain for about 1-2 months. Irrigation and organic mulching are needed in the nursery. For 1Ha of main field, nursery area of 25-40 Sq.m is sufficient. At transplanting, moisture is needed in the main field to reduce the transplanting shock. Spacing in the main field is 90 X 90 cm for Trailing type and 60 X 60 cm for Non Trailing type. Farmyard manure@ 10 - 15 T / Ha and NPK @ 80: 60: 80 Kg / Haare required.



Intercropping in Yams

Dioscorea and Elephant Foot Yam are intercropped with Nendran Banana generates additional income of Rs 2000 / Ha over farmers practice of sole crop Banana. Dioscorea can be intercropped in coconut garden with a planting density of 9000 / Ha.



Fertilizer recommendation for Taro

Organic matter @ 12 T / Ha. Organic mulching is needed. NPK @ 100 : 25 : 100 Kg / Ha. Full P to be applied as basal, 1/3rd N & 1/3 rd K at 15 days after sprouting and the rest at monthly intervals.