Studies on multi tier cropping systems in elephant foot yam Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Dennst Nicolson for efficient resource utilization and profitability in coastal Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

The present investigation entitled Studies on multi-tier cropping systems in elephant foot yam [Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson] for efficient resource utilization and profitability in coastal Andhra Pradesh was carried out during summer season (2019-20 and 2020-21) at College farm, College of Horticulture, Venkataramannagudem. newlineThe experiment was carried out with ten treatments in three replications. The experiment consists of different multi-tier cropping systems with elephant foot yam grown as main crop along with eighteen intercrops grown in different treatments. Significant differences were observed among the treatments for growth, weed, yield parameters, competitive functions, quality, nutrient uptake and economics. newlineAmong the different treatments, elephant foot yam when grown as sole crop (T10) recorded significantly superior growth parameters viz., days taken to 50 % sprouting, plant height (cm), plant spread (cm), petiole length (cm), number of leaves, leaf area (cm2), leaf area index and light interception (%) during both the years of experimentation (2019-20 and 2020-21) and in pooled analysis whereas culm girth (cm) was found to be non-significant. Weed characters viz., minimum dry weight of weeds (g m-2) and maximum weed smothering efficiency (%) were recorded in elephant foot yam + sweet corn + cowpea (T7) cropping system when compared to other multi-tier cropping systems. Similarly the yield characters viz., days taken to harvest, fresh weight of the corm (g), volume of the corm (cm3), yield per plot (kg) and yield per hectare (471.55 q, 500.18 q, 485.86 q) were significantly superior with elephant foot yam when grown as sole crop (T10) during both the years of experimentation (2019-20 and 2020-21) and in pooled analysis. newlineAmong the intercrops grown, elephant foot yam + ridge gourd + green chilli (T1) multi-tier cropping system recorded superior values for yield of intercrops per plot (kg) and per hectare (q) during both the years of experimentation (2019-20 newlineand 2020-21) and in poole