Soil Test Crop Response based Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply for Cassava in a Typic Rhodustalf of Tamil Nadu for Sustainable Livelihood

Abstract

The soil test crop response (STCR) approach for targeted yield is unique in indicating both soil testbased fertilizer dose and the level of yield that can be achieved with good agronomic practices.Cassava plays a significant role in the food, nutritional and employment security of the rural folk as araw material for starch based industries in many parts of the world. Cassava is generally grown inUltisols, Alfisols and Entisols which are poor in fertility. Field experiments were conducted for twoseasons under cassava in red sandy loam soils (Typic Rhodustalf)of Yethapur at Tapioca and CastorResearch Station, Yethapur during 2013-14 and 2014-15 using the variety ‘Tapioca YTP 1’. Therewere eleven treatments replicated thrice in a randomized block design to study the effect of STCRbased Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply (IPNS) for targeted yields on the growth, yield, quality andeconomics under irrigated conditions. Treatments differed significantly in the case of tuber yield andstarch. STCR based fertilizer application along with composted poultry manure @ 10 t ha-1recordedmaximum tuber yield of 42.50 t ha-1and 49.70 t ha-1for an yield target of 40 and 50 t ha-1respectivelyand the BC ratio (4.49) was higher for the latter treatment. The same treatments gave the maximumstarch content of 26.9 and 25.4% respectively too. Hence, this innovative nutrition practice of STCRbased IPNS for targeted yield plays a vital role in balanced nutrition, sustainable crop productivity andincreasing profit.