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

Abstract

Plant sensitivity under extreme stress in harsh agro-climatic environment for yam plants is studied to maximise yam yield for different seed weights. Longitudinal growths of 60 Elephant-foot-yam, 20 for each seed weight 500 g, 650 g and 800 g are examined in a field experiment conducted at Indian Statistical Institute Giridih, Jharkhand. Little manure and a few irrigations were available during the experiment. In order to maximise total yield, we examine yam growth under stress of interim yam detachment with two options: interim yam detachment towards the beginning of experiment, or at a later time from the middle of experiment; we also examine undisturbed yam growth for comparison. Growth curve analysis indicates that uprooting plants for taking interim readings and subsequent replantation has a favorable effect on inert growth of yam. For three different seed weights in either of three categories of induced stress on yam plants as, detachment of yam at first interim reading, detachment at second interim reading, and no interim detachment during experiment -only uprooting and replanting after taking growth readings; longitudinal growth curves are constructed via four possible readings on yam. Detaching yam around four and half month from sprouting for seed weight 800 g, and replanting the remaining stem structure with some roots attached to it and continue experiment till final harvest on maturity, has significantly increasing effect on interim yield plus yield on maturity, in comparison with other strategies under extreme stress. Yam growth becomes higher due to stress from interim yam detachment.

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

“…The earlier studies reported in Dasgupta (2017a), Dasgupta (2017b) indicated that yam detachment at the time of second interim growth recording is superior. The longitudinal growth curves of yam growth from 31 plants over different seed weights, all subjected to interim yam detachment at the time of second growth recording are shown in Figure 1.…”

“…Yam plants are found to be stress resistant when cultivated in a harsh agro-climatic environment. Seed weight 800 g is seen to be appropriate for high yield in a study reported in Dasgupta (2017a). When the stress is extreme for plant survival, higher seed weight supports the plant growth at initial stage and 800 g of seed weight produced more yam in an experiment conducted in Giridih, Jharkhand (India).…”

“…The experimental layout 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, see Dasgupta (2017a).…”

“…Sensitivity of Elephant-foot-yam plants under stress is analyzed in relation to yield to have higher yield than usual. Plant stress may suitably be used to achieve higher yield of yam, e.g., see Dasgupta (2017a), Dasgupta (2017b). Yam plants are found to be stress resistant when cultivated in a harsh agro-climatic environment.…”

“…Harsh agro-climatic environment in the field experiment with a few irrigations given in peak of summer in the beginning of the experiment acted as severe stress, the yam plants were further subjected to interim yam detachment at either of the two time zones in growth experiment and remaining stem structure was replanted as described in Dasgupta (2017a). The first interim yam detachment time was at two and half months after sprouting, and the second interim detachment time was at four and half months from sprouting.…”