Growth performance of taro (Colocasia esculenta L.) applied with different mixture of soil media

Abstract

This study was conducted in Brgy, Rosario, Pilar, Capiz from February 3 to April 24, 2024, aimed to evaluate the effects of different soil media mixtures on the growth and yield performance of taro. The research focused on plant height, number of leaves, and average leaf size at 20, 40, 60, and 80 days after planting (DAP), as well as yield parameters such as the weight of marketable corms, average corm weight, and average corm size per plot. The experiment followed a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four soil media treatments: Treatment A (control with pure garden soil), Treatment B (10kg cocopeat + 10kg rice hull), Treatment C (12.5kg rice hull + 12.5kg cocopeat), and Treatment D (15kg cocopeat + 15kg rice hull). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD Test at 5% and 1% significance levels. The results indicated that taro plants showed significant differences in plant height and average leaf size at 80 DAP, suggesting that soil media mixtures can enhance nutrient availability and plant growth, particularly in later stages. However, no significant differences were observed in plant height, number of leaves, or leaf size at earlier growth stages (20, 40, and 60 DAP). Similarly, the yield components—average corm weight, corm size, and marketable corm weight per plot—did not show significant differences among treatments.