PERFORMANCE OF TARO UNDER LOWLAND CONDITION AS AFFECTED BY GENOTYPE, NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND POPULATION DENSITY

Abstract

The local taro variety Kalpao performed better than the Introduced variety Big Lehua. Kalpao had higher yield, shorter growing period and was relatively resistant to adverse growing conditions than Big Lehua. Nitrogen was a more important nutrient than P and K for growth and increased yield of lowland taro. Plants which received higher rates of N, regardless of the levels of P₂O₅ and K₂O, consistently grew taller and produced larger leaf area. Corm yield was significantly increased with increasing rate of N. Yield of plants applied with P₂O_s and K₂O but without N was not significantly different from that obtained from the unfertilized plants. Corm yield increased proportionately with increase In plant population. Yield of taro appeared to be associated with the number rather than size of the corms at harvest.