Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
consumption is in Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands. In many places it is an import-
ant crop of subsistence farmers.
5.7.1 Climatic Adaptation
Taro is hardy and will survive freezing when other tropical root crops will not. Despite
this it is generally grown in tropical countries with high rainfall and that do not
have freezing conditions. In part this is due to the fact that it can be grown in both
water saturated and dry land soil.
5.7.2 Importance in Human Nutrition
Nutritional value of taro is much like other root crops and is described in detail below. It
is the staple of many tropical island peoples of the Pacific Ocean including Hawaii in
the United States.
5.7.3 Propagation and Cultivation
Taro is propagated from cuttings from side suckers on the main plant, small corms
(shown in Fig. 5.21) obtained during harvest, corm pieces, and from huli. Corm
pieces are obtained by cutting a corm into pieces that are each then used as a source
of a new plant. This is somewhat similar to obtaining potato planting material from
tubers. Corm pieces may then be started in a nursery before transplanting to the
field. The use of huli, which is the top 1 to 2 cm of a corm plus 15 to 20 cm of the
stems attached to it, is unique to taro production. The use of huli is a preferred propa-
gation method in many places because little of the eatable portion of the taro is used.
In addition to the use of huli in propagation, taro is unique in that it can be grown as
a lowland, flooded, or upland, dry-land crop. In this regard it is similar to rice, although
the plants are vastly different as can be seen from Figure 5.20. For flooded production of
taro the field is prepared much the same as for rice and water levels increased or
decreased as needed during the growing season for various operations such as
weeding and fertilization. The field is allowed to drain before harvest. Under these
conditions taro is grown as a sole crop. Yield is significantly higher under flooded
conditions, although time to maturity is increased.
Upland production of taro is also common. This type of production depends on a
long 6- to 9-month rainy season or adequate irrigation water for this period of time.
Land is prepared by plowing and harrowing as with most crops, and subsequently
the field may be ridged and the taro “seed” stock planted on the top or in the furrow
between ridges. The field may also be mulched to conserve water.
Weeding and fertilization are required during the growing season of taro. Weeds
must be controlled for maximum production; however, with taro weeds may be con-
trolled by either traditional weeding methods or by flooding if sufficient water is avail-
able. Although taro responds to fertilization, most is grown by subsistence farmers who
do not have either the money or access to fertilizer.
