Biomass distribution pattern in arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea L.) as influenced by plant density and mulching.

摘要

Field experiments were conducted at the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India to study the effects of spacing and mulching on dry matter production and partitioning in arrowroot. Spacing and mulching significantly influenced the pattern of biomass production and partitioning in arrowroot. The closest spacing (30x15 cm) favoured shoot, root, rhizome and whole plant biomass as well as rhizome dry matter partitioning ratio at almost all stages in both years. Plants spaced at 30x15 cm produced significantly higher rhizome dry biomass of 13.152 and 14.643 t ha-1 in 1996-97 and 1997-98, respectively, due to dense crop stand (220 000 plants ha-1). Mulching using green leaves or dried leaves proved beneficial in realizing significantly higher rhizome dry biomass particularly during rhizome enlargement phase (5 and 7 MAP) in both years and at rhizome development stage (3 MAP) in 1997-98 and rhizome dry matter partitioning ratio at most stages in both years. At harvest, mulched treatments, irrespective of the material used, significantly promoted rhizome dry biomass and resulted in 111.71% (1996-97) and 70.61% (1997-98) higher rhizome biomass over the bare soil treatment. Total plant biomass was also profoundly influenced by green leaf or dried leaf mulching during most occasions in both years. Planting arrowroot at a spacing of 30x15 cm to accommodate 220 000 plants ha-1 and mulching using green leaves resulted in higher total biomass and rhizome biomass in arrowroot..