<b>Growth and development of yacon in different periods of planting and growing regions

Abstract

The increasing interest in the commercial exploitation of yacon has demanded adequate technological knowledge for the implantation and management of the crop, including planting periods and cultivation regions that contribute to the satisfactory growth and development of the species. This study was conducted in two different locations, one in a mountainous region and another in a lowland region. In each location, yacon was planted in four different seasons, fall (April), winter (July), spring (September) and summer (December). We collected primary dry matter accumulation data for different parts of the plant and the leaf area at 30 day intervals. We used these values to calculate the following morphophysiological indexes: specific leaf area, leaf area index, tillage growth rate and net assimilation rate. We concluded that planting in the fall in mountainous or lowland sites favoured the growth and development of yacon. Cultivation in mountainous regions, regardless of the planting season, promoted a greater mass accumulation of tuberous roots, which may be reflected in higher productivity. Both fall and winter planting in the mountainous region allows root harvesting at the same time.

Yacon planting density in intercropping with corn under banana orchard

“…Observing the effect of yacon planting densities under banana orchard, the authors noticed that spacings 0.3 and 0.4 m were the ones which promoted higher productivities (6.47 and 6.09 t ha -1 , respectively), this is related to greater number of plants per area (Table 2). Generally, yacon productivity obtained under banana orchard can be considered lower than expected, since the higher density of the plant tested in this system (11,111 plants ha -1 ) was around 50% in relation to density usually used in monocrop (20,000 plants ha -1 ) and presented around 21% of the productivity observed in monocrops (30 t ha -1 ) (Silva et al, 2018).…”

“…Light restriction condition decreases the leaf photosynthetic rates (Yang et al, 2018), promoting lower net photosynthesis rates, which may affect the development and production of some plants. For yacon/corn intercropping, a competition for nutrients may probably have happened when yacon would be mobilizing its reserves for the tuberous roots, as it was reported by Silva et al (2018): yacon shows increasing investment in the fraction of tuberous roots, especially after 60 days after planting, and peak investment at 120 days.…”

“…T h u s , t h e a u t h o r s n o t i c e d the possibility of yacon planting intercropped with bananas, when its canopy is more open, allowing the insertion of another species. In addition, as yacon has slow initial growth, with an emergency time that can take 30 to 60 days (Silva et al, 2018), it is possible to compose a triple intercropping, based on lines between species, which would further contribute to optimize the use of the area and to increase the farmer's income.…”

Influence of Weeds on Yacon Initial Growth and Development

“…Bidens pilosa and Cyperus rotundus less affected the crop comparing to the other weeds (Table 1). These results demonstrate the yacon sensibility to competition with some weeds in the early crop cycle stages, indicating the requirement of management techniques for these plants, since this crop has a long cycle plant (8-12 months) and slow initial growth (Silva et al, 2018a), providing a favorable growth window for the weeds and allowing them to compete for resources, mainly water and nutrients.…”

Secagem do extrato de yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) por Spray Dryer: efeito dos diferentes agentes carreadores e avaliação dos teores de frutooligossacarídeos e compostos fenólicos

“…A batata yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) é uma raiz tuberosa nativa da região dos Andes (Colômbia, Equador e Peru) e pertencente à família Asteraceae, como a chicória (Cichorium intybus), a alcachofra de Jerusalém (Helianthus tuberosus) e a dália (Dahlia sp.) (Silva et al, 2018). Sua aparência é a de um tubérculo, no entanto, tem polpa translúcida com textura crocante, ligeiramente adocicada, pouco ácida e não tóxica.…”