Growth Curve of Elephant Foot Yam under Moderate to Severe Stress and Plant Sensitivity

Longitudinal Growth Curve of Elephant Foot Yam under Extreme Stress and Plant Sensitivity

“…With extreme plant stress, more severe than that described in Dasgupta (2016), higher seed weight 800 g comes to the forefront of yam yield, surpassing the seed weight 650 g of the previous experiments. With interim detachment around four and half month after sprouting; plants of higher seed weight can cope better with extreme plant stress for survival, and achieve higher total yield in a harsher agro-climatic environment.…”

“…The experimental layout is similar to that described in Dasgupta (2016), this consists of six columns, in each column there are ten equidistant pits at a distance of 1 m. First two columns are for seed weight 500 g, next two are for seed weight 650 g, and the last two columns are for plants with seed weight 800 g. Column to column distance is also 1 m; the plants are numbered 1-10 in the first column, 11-20 in the second etc.…”

“…As already mentioned, in a similar set-up under severe plant stress of no weeding, little fertilizer, little irrigation before first interim reading on yam; detachment around middle of experiment is seen as a superior strategy to maximise total yield with 650 g seed weight, among seed weights 500 g, 650 g, 800 g; see Dasgupta (2016). With extreme plant stress, more severe than that described in Dasgupta (2016), higher seed weight 800 g comes to the forefront of yam yield, surpassing the seed weight 650 g of the previous experiments.…”

“…Further as a severe stress, for some plants in each seed weight category, underground yam associated with root structure are detached at about two and half months after sprouting, and for some plants yam detachment is at about four and half months after sprouting, and for remaining plants no interim yam detachment is made; decision of detachment is based on an assessment of underground yam growth at the time of interim recording. It may be mentioned that in a similar set-up under plant stress of no weeding, little fertilizer, and little irrigation before first interim reading on yam, regular plant care started only after first interim reading till the end of experiment; in that case the strategy of yam detachment made around middle of experiment is seen to be a superior strategy to maximise total yield with 650 g of seed weight, among seed weights 500 g, 650 g, 800 g; see Dasgupta (2016).…”

“…Electrical signalling in the wounded plants is investigated e.g., in Wildon et al (1992). Plant sensitivity under stress can suitably be utilized to increase crop yield see e.g., Dasgupta (2016), and the references therein. Among other stimuli, plants are sensitive to the color of light and touch.…”