CULTURAL MANAGEMENT STUDIES ON UPLAND TARO: Effects of Cultivation Systems on Growth and Yield of Taro and Incidence of Associated Weeds

Abstract

Two croppings were conducted to determine the effects of 2 levels of land preparation and different post planting cultivation systems on the performance of upland taro and weed incidence. Plowing and harrowing once or twice with a carabao-drawn plow resulted in the same corm yield. The vegetative growth, biological yield of main plants, weight of rhizomes, number of rhizomes/m² and harvest index were also not affected by levels of land preparation. The different postplanting cultivation systems likewise did not significantly affect the above parameters including main corm yield. This effect was attributed largely to the adequate weed control provided by the cultivation systems. Off-barring with carabao-drawn plow at 2 weeks after planting (WAP) + handweeding at 3 WAP + hilling-up at 5 WAP consistently gave high return of investment and required least cost in producing 1 kg of main corms. Handweeding was the most expensive operation. Apparently, one plowing and harrowing is sufficient for upland taro as long as postplanting cultivation is employed with adequate weed control measures.