Growth, Dry Matter Production and Nutrient Uptake of Elephant Foot Yam ( Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson) as Influenced by Drip Irrigation and Fertigation Levels

A field experiment was conducted for consecutive three years (2009-2011) at the Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Dumuduma, Bhubaneswar, Odisha to study the effect of drip irrigation and fertigation levels on growth, dry matter production and nutrient uptake pattern in elephant foot yam ( Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson). The experiment was laid out in split plot design with drip irrigation levels in main plots (I 1 - 60% CPE, I 2 - 80% CPE and I 3 - 100% CPE) and fertigation levels in sub plots (F 1 - N:K 2 O 80:80 kg ha -1 , F 2 - N:K 2 O 100:100 kg ha -1 and F 3 - N:K 2 O 120:120 kg ha -1 ). A control treatment (surface irrigation; soil application of N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O 100-60-100 kg ha -1 ) was included in this experiment. The treatments were replicated three times. Farmyard manure 10 t ha -1 and 60 kg ha -1 P 2 O 5 were incorporated into the soil in all the treatments during the last plough. The result revealed that drip fertigation treatment I 3 F 3 resulted in maximum growth attributes and corm yield. However, it was at par with I 3 F 2 and I 2 F 3 . The dry matter accumulation in corm was greater than in shoot at 3, 5 and 8 MAP. The consumptive use of 1258.1 mm water was observed with drip irrigation, whereas in surface irrigation it was 1721.4 mm. At 3 MAP, nutrient uptake by shoot was greater than in corm. At 5 and 8 MAP, nutrient uptake by corm was greater than in shoot. The total K uptake of elephant foot yam was greater than N and P. The total N, P and K uptake was maximum at 8 MAP (at harvest) in all the treatments. The treatment I 3 F 3 resulted in maximum total N, P and K uptake at all the stages. The water requirement of elephant foot yam reduced from 6.1 to 4.4 litres day -1 plant -1 and saved water 58.0-66.4% through drip irrigation. Drip fertigation (three splits) saved fertilizer N:K 2 O 20:20 kg ha -1 (20%) and increased corm yield up to 15.1%.