• Dig pits of 60 cm x 60 cm x 45 cm size 90 cm apart.
• Collect the topsoil to a depth of 15-20 cm separately and fill it after the pits are formed.
• Apply cowdung or compost at 2-2.5 kg/pit and mix with topsoil.
• Dip the pieces in cowdung slurry and allow to dry under shade before planting
• After planting, cover the pit with dried leaves or other mulching materials
• Most of the seed material will germinate within one month after planting.

Minisetts

• 75-100 g weighing minisetts planted directly in nursery beds or in the main field
• central bud portion facing up at a spacing of 60 cm × 45cm

Organic farming technology for elephant foot yam

Green manure crops

• Raising Cowpea - @ 20 kg/ha prior to elephant foot yam
• Incorporation of green matter at 45-60 days.
• Inter-sowing of green manure cowpea @ 20 kg/ha between elephant foot yam pits
• Incorporation of green matter in pits at 45-60 days.
• The green matter addition from the 2 green manure crops should be 20-25 t/ha

Biocontrol agents

• Treatment of corm pieces of 500-750 g with slurry containing cowdung, neem cake and Trichoderma harzianum (20g/kg seed) and drying under shade before planting.
• Application of Trichoderma harzianum incorporated FYM @ 36 t /ha or 3 kg/ pit.
• Preparation of Trichoderma enriched FYM (1 ton) - FYM, neem cake mixture (10:1) inoculated with Trichoderma harzianum @ 2.5 kg.
• For the formation of Trichoderma enriched FYM it takes:
  • 15 days - Trichoderma multiplied in FYM alone
  • 7-8 days-Trichoderma multiplied in FYM along with neemcake

Organic control measures

• Use of organically produced planting materials
• At the time of planting - Application of neem cake @ l.0 t/ ha or 80-85 g/ pit
• At the time of incorporation of green manure - Application of ash @ 3 t /ha or 250 g/pit