APPLICATION OF SEMIDECOMPOSED CHICKEN MANURE TO THE SOIL FOR TARO YIELD

Abstract

An experiment was carried out in Dourados-MS, from ctober 2, 1998, to June 4, 1999, in a clay texture Dystrorthox oil, in order to evaluate yield response of five taro clones (Chinês, Japonês, Branco, Macaquinho and Cem-Um) under the use of 14 t.ha^-1 of semidecomposed chicken manure (CFC) placed in the inside furrows, added to the soil or as mulch. Factors were arranged in a randomized complete block design in a 5x3 factorial scheme with three replications. Cormels were used as explants. Leaf blades, petioles, corms (RM) and cormels (RF) of Japonês, Cem-Um, Branco and Macaquinho taro clones were harvested at 210  days. Chinês taro clone was harvested at 245 days. Leaf blade green matter of five taro clones had the lowest yield and varied from 3.0 t.ha^-1 (Macaquinho) to 1.2 t.ha^-1 (Branco) while petioles and RM had the highest yield, with variations from 19.4 and 17.4 t.ha^-1 (Macaquinho) to 4.8 and 7.8 t.ha^-1 (Branco), respectively. RM yield showed the best interaction effect for acaquinho taro, which was better with CFC incorporated (20.6 .ha^-1). Branco clone had the lowest RM yield (7.8 t.ha^-1) and the ighest RF yield (56.9 t.ha^-1). From results obtained for RM and F green and dry matter, it was concluded that the taro plants ad the productive capacity characteristic of the taro clone and hat CFC can be incorporated into the soil.

KEY-WORDS: Colocasia esculenta; yam; taro; organic residue; yield.