Suitability study on elephant foot yam varieties under coconut gardens of east coast region of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

An experiment on identification of suitable elephant foot yam varieties as intercrop for coconut gardens of east coastal region of Tamil Nadu was conducted at ICAR KVK, Thiruvarur during 2013 to 2015. Three varieties viz., Gajendra, Sree Padma and local check were tested in five locations of this region with seven replications as per Randomized block design (RBD). Observations on growth and yield attributes were recorded and crop economics were calculated and analysed statistically. The results revealed that, maximum plant height (72.10 cm), pseudo stem girth (13.10 cm), canopy spread E-W(81.30 cm), canopy spread N-S(83.20 cm), petiole length (55.60 cm), number of branches (5.30), number of leaflets (302.50) and Leaf Area Index (3.20) were recorded in the variety Gajendra followed by Sree Padma. The least vales for the parameters studied were recorded by the local check variety. The variety Gajendra took 56.00 days only for the 50 per cent emergence of the crop stand against 62.00 and 93.00 days respectively in Sree Padma and local check variety. The yield attributes viz., tuber yield (28.90 t/ha), corm diameter (15.30 cm), corm fresh weight (1340.80g), volume of tuber (2156.00 cm3), corm dry weight (339.60 g), dry matter per cent (25.33%) and Starchcontent (17.90%) were higher in the variety Gajendra. The net returns to the farmers also found higher in the variety Gajendra. As a conclusion of the study, elephant foot yam variety Gajendrais the most suitable intercrop in the coconut gardens of East coastal regions of Tamil Nadu.