Tapioca (Manihot esculenta)

At the time of land preparation

  • Farmyard Manure (FYM)- 12.5t/ha

Fertilizer dosage

  • H-97 and H 226 - 75 : 75 : 75
  • H-165, Sree Visakham, Sree Sahya - 100 : 100 : 100
  • M-4 and local - 50 : 50 : 50

Method of application

 General
  • Basal dose:
    • 1/3rd dose of N
    • 1/3rd K2O
    • Full dose of P2O5
  • 2 months after planting
    • 1/3rd dose of N
    • 1/3rd K2O
  • 3 months after planting
    • 1/3rd dose of N
    • 1/3rd K2O

    Dose of P2O5 can be reduced to half where the crop is grown for more than 3 years under full dose of recommended fertilizers, since under such situation there would be build-up of soil P.

 For August-September planted tapioca
  • Basal dose (With first digging and weeding)
    • 1/2 N
    • 1/2 K2O
    • Full dose of P2O5
  • 45 days after planting (At the time of intercultivation)
    • Remaining ½ N
    • Remaining ½ K2O
Note:
  • In the acid soils of Kerala, 50 per cent of K requirement can be substituted by NaCl.
  • N:P2O5:K2O @ 50:50:100 kg ha-1 is recommended for Sree Visakham when grown as an intercrop in coconut garden.
  • Higher levels of N tend to increase HCN content of the tubers
For enhancing the tuber yield and quality apply
  • MgSO4(Mg)-20 kg/ha or 1.62 g/plant
  • ZnSO4(Zn) -12.5 kg/ha or 1 g/ plant
  • Apply in small channels around the mounds within 2 months of planting cassava
  • Provide an interval of 2 weeks between the application of these fertilizer