Potential of Three Taro (Colocasia esculenta L.) Cultivars as Animal Feed

The growth and yield of taro (Colocasia esculenta L.) plants are influenced by the planting material. The use of planting material derived from corms is expected to improve the quality and quantity of taro growth and yield. This research aimed to find the best type of planting material and cultivars for taro growth and the potential of taro plants as animal feed. The experiment was carried out in Jember, East Java ( elevation ±89 m asl). The experiment used the randomized completed block design method with two treatment factors, the type of planting material (B) as the first factor (B1: taro corms, B2: taro tiller, B3: taro stolon) and the use of taro cultivars (V) as the second factor (V1: green taro, V2: ketan taro, V3: Sukabumi taro). The treatment was repeated four times. The results showed that there was an interaction between the use of taro planting material and taro cultivar that could influence the tuber weight per plant. The types of planting material had a significant effect on the number of tillers, leaf area, corm weight and diameter, and the planting of several taro cultivars significantly affected all observed variables. The treatment that gave the best results was planting material from taro tuber (B1) and Sukabumi cultivar (V3) with a tuber weight yield of 362.58 g (±14.5 tons/ha). Meanwhile, the Sukabumi cultivar (V3) had the best potential as animal feed. Overall, the stems and leaves of taro had a protein content of 1.19–2.02%, while the corms had 2.82–4.09%.

The Growth and Production of Three Sweet Potato Varieties as Affected by Dosage of Potassium Fertlizer on the Ultisols of Bengkulu Province

This study aims to study the interaction between varieties and the correct dose of potassium fertilizer, determine the right dose of potassium fertilizer and the appropriate variety of sweet potato in Ultisol. In this study, the research design used was a completely randomized block design (RAKL) with two (2) factors with three replications. The first factor is three varieties of sweet potato, namely Cilembu, Atin 3, and Beta 1. The second factor is the dose of KCl fertilizer which consists of 4 levels of dosage, namely 0 kg ha-1, 150 kg ha-1, 300 kg ha-1, and 450 kg ha-1 KCl fertilizer. The results showed no significant interaction between the dose of KCl fertilizer and the three varieties of sweet potato. The Antin 3 variety produced the most extended tendril length compared to the other two varieties. The lowest number of branches was produced by Beta 1 variety. The Cilembu variety produced the most significant tuber weight per plot and estimated weight per plot. The Cilembu variety is proven to have the highest level of sweetness.

Heritable Variation, Genetic and Phenotypic Correlations for Tuber Traits and Host Plant Resistance to Late Blight for Potato Breeding in Scandinavian Testing Sites

Potato breeding aims to improve crop productivity, quality and resilience based on heritable characteristics. Estimating the trait heritability and correlations—both genetic and phenotypic—among characteristics in a target population of environments allows us to define the best breeding method that leads to selection gains. Breeding clones (47) and released cultivars (209) were grown using simple lattice designs at three testing sites in northern and southern Sweden to estimate the best linear unbiased predictors (BLUPs) derived from mixed linear models for characteristics such as tuber weight (total and according to sizes), host plant resistance to late blight (caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans) and tuber quality (starch percentage based on specific gravity measurements and reducing sugars). There was significant heritable variation for all the characteristics investigated. Tuber starch percentage and total tuber weight were the traits with the highest broad-sense heritability (H2), while the weight for the smallest size (<40 mm) had the highest H2 among the different tuber categories. These results show the potential for further improving these traits for Scandinavia through recombination and selection in segregating offspring. The genetic and phenotypic correlations among the tuber weight characteristics were significant (p ≤ 0.05) irrespective of their sizes, but none were significant (p > 0.05) with tuber starch percentage. Host plant resistance to late blight was negatively and significantly associated with tuber weight and starch percentage, thereby showing the strong effects of this disease on the productivity and quality of the potatoes.

Comparison of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber size distribution fitting methods and evaluation of the relationship between soil properties and estimated distribution parameters

Accurate estimation of tuber size distribution (TSD) parameters in discretely categorized potato (Solanum tuberosum L) yield samples is desirable for estimating modal tuber sizes, which is fundamental to yield prediction. In the current work, systematic yield digs were conducted on five commercial fields (N = 119) to compare the Weibull, Gamma and Gaussian distribution functions for relative-likelihood-based goodness-of-fit to the observed discrete distributions. Parameters were estimated using maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) for the three distributions but were also derived using the percentiles approach for the Weibull distribution to compare accuracy against the MLE approaches. The relationship between TSD and soil nutrient variability was examined using the best-fitting model's parameters. The percentiles approach had lower overall relative likelihood than the MLE approaches across five locations, but had consistently lower Root Mean Square Error in the marketable tuber size range. Negative relationships were observed between the percentile-based shape parameter and the concentrations of Phosphorus and Nitrogen, with significant (non-zero-overlapping 95% confidence interval) regression coefficients for P (−0.74 ± 0.33 for distribution of proportional tuber numbers and −1.3 ± 0.62 for tuber weights). Stem density was negatively associated with the scale and mode of tuber number (regression coefficients −0.98 ± 0.63 and −1.08 ± 0.78 respectively) and tuber weight (regression coefficients −0.99 ± 0.78 and −1.04 ± 0.69 respectively) distributions. Phosphorus is negatively related to the scale of the tuber-number-based distribution while positively associating with the tuber weight distribution. The results suggest that excess P application was associated with the increase in small tubers that did not contribute significant weight to the final yield.

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Plant Growth and Tuber Yield of Dahlia (Dahlia variabilis) cv. Kenya White

The experiment was carried out at Experimental field, Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture Technology and Sciences [formerly known as Allahabad Agriculture Institute Deemed University, AAI-DU] during the Spring season 2014-2015. The experiment consists of Thirteen treatments viz., (T0) Control-RDF (100:120:100 N P K kg ha-1,), (T1) 75% RDF + AZ@ 2.5 kg ha-1,, (T2) 75% RDF + FYM @ 10 ton ha-1, (T3) 75% RDF + VC@ 10 ton ha-1, (T4) 75% RDF + AZ @ 2.5 kg/ha +FYM @ 10 ton ha-1+VC @ 10 ton ha-1, (T5) 50% RDF +AZ@ 2.5 kg ha-1, (T6) 50% RDF + FYM@ 10 ton ha-1, (T7) 50% RDF + VC@ 10 ton ha-1, (T8) 50% RDF + AZ @ 2.5 kg ha-1+FYM @ 10 ton ha-1+VC @ 10 ton ha-1, (T9) 25% RDF + AZ@ 2.5 kg ha-1, (T10) 25% RDF + FYM@ 10 ton ha-1, (T11) 25% RDF + VC@ 10 ton ha-1+, (T12) 25% RDF + AZ @ 2.5 kg ha-1+FYM @ 10 ton ha-1+VC @ 10 ton ha-1. The treatments were replicated thrice in a Randomized Complete Block Design. The results revealed that Plants treated with 75% RDF + AZ @ 2.5 kg/ha +FYM @ 10 t/ha +VC @ 10 t/ha (T4) significantly recorded maximum vegetative and Tuber yield attributes like plant height (91.87 cm), plant spread (92.38 cm), Number of Branches per plant (7.27), number of leaves per plant (26.53), number of tubers per plant (4.80), maximum tuber weight (958.53) and Maximum tuber yield per plant was recorded in T4 (75% RDF + AZ @ 2.5 kg/ha +FYM @ 10 t/ha +VC @ 10 t/ha) (43.33g) followed by T3 (75% RDF + VC @ 10 t/ha) (40.95g).

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Growth in Response to Foliar Silicon Application

As silicon induces abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants, it was hypothesized that foliar silicon application could improve potato growth in an early crop culture. The effect of dosage (0.25 dm3∙ha–1 or 0.50 dm3∙ha–1) and time (the leaf development stage, BBCH 14–16, tuber initiation stage, BBCH 40–41, or both the leaf development stage and tuber initiation stage) of application of the silicon-based biostimulant Optysil (200 g SiO2 and 24 g Fe in 1 dm3) on potato growth was investigated. Optysil caused an increase in plant height and above-ground plant biomass, enlarged leaf area and decreased leaf weight ratio (LWR), and, as a result, increased tuber number and tuber weight per plant. The effect of Optysil depended on a water deficit during potato growth. The average tuber weight per plant in the cultivation treated with Optysil was higher by 23% under periodic water deficits during potato growth, and by 13% under drought conditions, than in the cultivation without the biostimulant. Dosage of Optysil had a significant effect on above-ground plant biomass and leaf area in the warm and arid growing season. Under drought stress, Optysil at 0.50 dm3∙ha–1 stimulated potato growth more than at 0.25 dm3∙ha–1. Under periodic water deficits during potato growth, the time of Optysil application affected potato growth more than the biostimulant dosage. The plants produced greater above-ground biomass and had a larger leaf area with two Optysil applications; one in the initial plant growth period (BBCH 14–16), and a repeated treatment in the tuber initiation stage (BBCH 40–41). The tuber weight per plant was positively correlated with the plant height, above-ground plant biomass, leaf area, and LWR.

Optimalisasi Dosis Pupuk Tunggal dan Pupuk Kandang untuk Produksi Bawang Putih di Dataran Tinggi

The addition of nutrients for garlic plants consists of two type, namely the application of anorganic fertilizers in the form of single fertilizers N, P, K and organic fertilizers such as manure. The purpose of this study was to obtain the right dose of single fertilizer N, P, K and chicken manure. The experiment was arranged using a Randomized Block Design with 4 replications. The treatments consisted of 9 treatment combinations consisting of A = 100% single fertilizer + 15 tons of manure, B = 100% single fertilizer + 10 tons of manure, C = 100% single fertilizer + 5 tons of manure, D = 75% single fertilizer + 15 tons of manure, E = 75% single fertilizer + 10 tons of manure, F = 75% single fertilizer + 5 tons of manure, G = 50% single fertilizer + 15 tons of manure, H = 50% single fertilizer + 10 tons of manure, I = 50% single fertilizer + 5 tons of manure. The dose of 100% single fertilizer was SP36 375 kg.ha-1, ZA 1.144 kg.ha-1and KCl 200 kg.ha-1. The type of manure used is chicken manure. The results showed that doses of 75% and 100% of single fertilizer combined with 15 ton.ha-1 resulted in the wet and dry weight of the stover, the diameter and weight of the tubers, which were the same, respectively, the dry weight of the stover 32,57 grams and 39,40 grams, the dry weight of the stover. 17,43 grams and 17,63 grams, tuber diameter 33,09 and 33,13, tuber weight 14,07 grams and 14,30 grams. These results tend to be higher than other treatments. 75% single fertilizer and 15 ton.ha-1 chicken manure can be recommended for fertilization in garlic production.

Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Dua Varietas Ubi Kayu pada Empat Dosis Pupuk Npk di Lahan Pasang Surut Kalimantan Selatan

Tidal acid land is a potential land for cassava development. However, the development of cassava in tidal land faces many obstacles, one of which is the low availability of nutrients. This study aimed to determine the effect of NPK fertilizer in increasing the growth and yield of cassava in tidal land. The experiment consisted of two factors, the first factor was two varieties of cassava and the second factor was four levels of NPK fertilizer doses. The experiment was applied in a strip plot design with variety as the horizontal factor and the level of NPK fertilizer as the vertical factor and repeated three times. The growth parameters observed consisted of plant height, stem diameter, plant biomass weight, number of large tubers, number of small tubers, large tuber length, length of small tuber, the diameter of large tuber, the diameter of small tuber, the total number of tubers, the weight of large tuber, the weight of tuber small, and total tuber weight. The results showed that fertilizer application was effective in increasing vegetative growth and yield of cassava but increasing the dose of fertilizer was not effective in increasing the growth and yield of cassava. Differences in varieties generally did not show differences in vegetative growth and some yield components but still showed different results in the components of tuber length and total tuber weight.

Respon Pertumbuhan Dan Hasil Tanaman Bawang Merah (Allium ascalonicum L.) Varietas Bima Brebes Pada Pemberian Pupuk Organik Konsentrat

This experiment was carried out in Ujungjaya District, Sumedang Regency. At an altitude of 50 meters above sea level, the soil type is Vertisol. The time of this experiment was carried out from June to August 2020. The purpose of this experiment was to study, determine and get the best dose of growth response and yield of shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) Bima Brebes variety on the application of concentrated organic fertilizer. The design used was a simple randomized block design (RBD) consisting of 4 treatments of concentrated organic fertilizer in 6 replications. Concentrated organic fertilizers used are: A = 0 g/polybag, B = 50 g/polybag, C = 75 g/polybag and D = 100 g/polybag. The results showed that the application of concentrated organic fertilizer significantly affected plant height, number of leaves at age (14 HST) and tuber weight per plot. The application of concentrated organic fertilizer at a dose of 75 g/polybag showed higher yields on plant height, number of leaves, number of tubers per clump, tuber weight per clump and tuber weight per plot.

Response of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to NPS Fertilizer Rates and Inter-Row Spacing in Kechi District, South Western Ethiopia

Fertilizer requirement and spacing vary across locations due to differences in soil types, nutrient and moisture availability, economic factors, and other environmental conditions. Therefore, a field experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different rates of NPS fertilizers and inter-row spacing on growth, yield, yield components, and economic performance of potato in Kechi research farm, Dawro zone of south-western Ethiopia. The experiment was arranged in factorial combination of six NPS (19N–38P2O5–7S) fertilizer rates (0 kg/ha, 50 kg/ha, 100 kg/ha, 150 kg/ha, 200 kg/ha, and 250 kg/ha) and five inter-row spacings (45, 55, 65, 75, and 85 cm) which were laid out in RCBD with three replications using the Gudene variety. Growth, yield component, and yield data were collected and analyzed. In addition, a partial budget analysis was performed. The results showed that the main effect of NPS fertilizer and inter-row spacing had significantly ( P < 0.05 ) affected plant height, tuber number, tuber yield, and tuber size and average tuber weight. Maximum marketable tuber number per plant (11.627), total tuber number per plant (13.020), average tuber weight per plant (83.493 g), the proportion of large-sized tuber number per plant (41.893%), marketable tuber yield (48.056 t/ha), and total tuber yield (51.145 t/ha) were obtained from 200 kg/ha of NPS fertilizer which was statistically at par with 150 kg/ha and 250 kg/ha NPS, while the lowest result for those parameters was recorded from unfertilized plots. Results regarding inter-row spacing revealed that the highest marketable tuber number per plant (11.744), total tuber number per plant (13.144), and average tuber weight per plant (85.559 g) were recorded at 75 cm, while the lowest result for these parameters was recorded at 45 cm. Moreover, the highest marketable tuber yield (45.084 t/ha) and total tuber yield (48.462 t/ha) were obtained from the inter-row spacing of 65 cm which was statistically at par with 55 cm inter-row spacing, while the lowest result for these parameters was recorded at 85 cm. The partial budget analysis further revealed that 200 kg/ha NPS fertilizer gave the maximum net benefit. However, 150 kg/ha NPS resulted in the highest marginal rate of return (4303.91%). Thus, 150 kg/ha NPS fertilizer and inter-row spacing of 55 cm or 65 cm are suggested for attaining higher potato yield.