Effect of various planting media on growth of Thao Yai Mom (Tacca Leontopetaloides ktze.)

Abstract

The results revealed that the planting medium of rice husk ash: sandy soil: cow dung (1:1:1) gave the tallest plants. Moreover, the number of new tubers per planted tuber, number of new tubers per plant, weight of new tubers per plant and weight per new tuber obtained on rice husk ash: sandy soil: cow dung (1:1:1) were greater than those on sandy soil-only, a controlled treatment. Still, the medium of rice husk ash: sandy soil: cow dung (1:1:1) gave the highest fresh weight of new tubers per pot; followed by the mediums of loam soil: rice husk ash (1:1), rice husk ash: cow dung (1:1), sandy soil: cow dung (1:1), loam soil, sandy soil: rice husk ash (1:1), rice husk ash, and sandy soil-only, respectively. The plant height was positively associated with fresh weight of new tubers per pot. It was concluded that the rice husk ash: sandy soil: cow dung (1:1:1) is the best planting medium for growth of thao yai mom due to its contribution of having the tallest plant, highest number of new tubers per planted tuber, highest number of new tubers per plant, greatest weight of new tubers per plant, and greatest fresh weight of new tubers per pot. The sandy soil-only was not a good planting medium as all plant growth parameters were the lowest compared to the rest of the planting media. This study suggested that the planting medium of rice husk ash: sandy soil: cow dung (1:1:1) could replace the use of sandy soil-only as the planting medium for growing thao yai mom plant.