Central Tuber Crops Research Institute

About: Central Tuber Crops Research Institute is a facility organization based out in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Starch & Fermentation. The organization has 475 authors who have published 587 publications receiving 10285 citations.

Status and Requirement of Boron for Tropical Tuber Crops Under Laterite (Typic Kandi Ustult) Soils

Abstract: Tropical tuber crops also require the micronutrient B for its growth and productivity as in the case of all other crops. The very low B content in the major tropical tuber crops growing soils of Kerala could cause the manifestation of B deficiency symptoms both in vegetative parts and tubers in the case of cassava and sweet potato. The recent occurrence of symptoms akin to hollow/brown heart of potato, in yams ( Dioscorea ), necessitated to take up experiments related to B nutrition to understand the etiology of this problem. Since the manifestation was noticed in a typical laterite soil (Typic Kandi Ustult) of the farm of ICAR-CTCRI and under similar soils of the State, a rapid nutrient status appraisal was made for the five blocks of CTCRI farm for nutrients viz., available B and exchangeable Ca as there exists a synergism between these two nutrients. A sorption study too was conducted to predict the rate of application of B for soils of varying B status. A total of 95 soil samples collected from these blocks taking into account the terrain and present cropping/fallow were analysed. Wide variation was seen in the available B status ranging from 0.14-0.419 ppm for block I and II, 0.172-0.419, 0.172- 0.848, 0.150-1.052 ppm for block III, IV and V respectively with mean values as 0.317, 0.242, 0.289, 0.331 and 0.356 ppm respectively. The mean exchangeable Ca content of the soils of these blocks were 0.896, 1.015, 0.640, 0.989, 0.877 meq 100 g-1 soil with ranges as 0.565-1.303, 0.741-1.387, 0.534-0.866, 0.762-1.215 and 0.591-1.254 meq 100 g-1 soil respectively. To understand the interaction between these nutrients, the correlation worked out indicated synergism or significant positive correlation (r=0.537) only in block V. Sorption study could find a linear increase in the quantity of B extracted in the soils of varying B contents ranging from 0.1-1.0 ppm under addition of incremental rates of B from 0.25 to 4.0 ppm. The inverse prediction function method employed to predict the quantity of B to be applied to attain soil B status to either the soil critical level of B (0.5 ppm), double (1.0 ppm) and thrice (1.5 ppm) the critical levels in soils of the above B status (0.1-1.0 ppm) was found as 0.78-3.09, 1.80-7.21 and 7.4-11.33 ppm respectively. Though the low soil available B and exchangeable Ca content can be attributed as one of the reasons for the problem manifested in yams, detailed studies are needed to explore the role of abiotic factors especially moisture and heat stress in the dynamics of these nutrients at different growth stages of the crop.

Tuber Crops Interventions to Improve Livelihood Security in Disadvantaged Districts of Odisha

Abstract: Root and tuber crops are important food crops and have greater climate resilient characters. Tuber crops interventions were demonstrated in disadvantaged districts (Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Dhenkanal) of Odisha on livelihood improvement. During the year 2010-11, elephant foot yam (Gajendra) was produced 17.0 tonnes tuber in 0.46 ha (46 households) with the net income of Rs 4600 per household (100 m 2 demonstration). Sweet potato (Kishan) + red gram (UPAS-120) intercropping produced 2.52 tonnes of tubers + 330 kg seed yield in 0.30 ha (15 households) with the net income of Rs 2150 per household (400 m 2 demonstration). During the year 2011-12, greater yam (Orissa elite) was demonstrated in 1.84 ha (92 households) and produced 43.4 tonnes tuber with the net income of Rs 2040 per household (200 m 2 demonstration). Sweet potato (Kishan) was demonstrated in 2.6 ha (65 households) and produced 27 tonnes tuber with the net income of Rs 380 per household (400 m 2 demonstration). Yam bean (RM-1) consumed as salad after peeling the skin resulted net income of Rs 2110 and Rs 1781 per household (300 m 2 demonstration) during the year 2010-11 and 2011-12, respectively. Cassava performed well in the demonstrations during both the years. However, farmers were reluctant to grow this crop, as they did not know the utility of cassava tubers. Proximate composition of greater yam, elephant foot yam and sweet potato tubers were analyzed for protein, fat, minerals, fiber and carbohydrates and discussed in this paper. Improved varieties and production techniques offered good scope in improvement of livelihood and nutritional security of rainfed farmers in disadvantaged districts of Odisha.

Influence of Nutrients and Nutrient Use Efficient Genotypes on Tuber and Leaf Cyanogen and Tuber Starch in Cassava

Abstract: The present study reports the variation in tuber quality parameters like starch, cyanogenic glucosides (CN) and leaf CN content among four nutrient use efficient (NUE) cassava genotypes viz., Sree Pavithra, CI-905, CI-906 and 7 III E3-5. The impact of secondary nutrient Mg and micronutrients viz., Zn and B on the above parameters in cassava variety Sree Visakham (H-1687) towards the later period of maturity of cassava also was studied. Among the genotypes, Sree Pavithra had the least and 7 III E3- 5 had the highest tuber CN. A decreasing trend in tuber CN from 7-9 months after planting (MAP) was recorded in the genotypes. The leaf CN was very high compared to tuber CN. The highest leaf CN was in 7 III E3-5 as in the case of tuber CN. The genotype CI-906 had the lowest leaf CN followed by Sree Pavithra. But the leaf CN increased at 9 MAP compared to 7 and 8 MAP. There was a positive correlation between tuber and leaf CN. In the case of tuber starch, there was a significant difference among genotypes with Sree Pavithra on par with CI-906, having the highest, and 7 III E3-5 on par with CI-905 having lower starch contents. However, there was a significant increase during 8-8.5 MAP. As regards to the influence of secondary and micronutrients, compared to PoP, different combinations of these nutrients resulted in significantly low tuber CN which in turn were on par. The stage of plant growth did not impact on tuber CN. Leaf CN was considerably lowered due to the application of secondary and micronutrients. Compared to PoP, the leaf CN was highest under three nutrient combination of Mg, Zn and B as well as Zn along with Mg. A sharp decline in leaf CN was also noticed from7 to 9 MAP. Significant positive correlation was seen between tuber and leaf CN. In the case of tuber starch, application of Mg along with Zn resulted in significantly the highest tuber starch whereas application of Mg alone, resulted the lowest. Significant negative correlation was seen between tuber starch and tuber CN and between tuber starch and leaf CN.

Electronic Crop (e-Crop): An Intelligent IoT Solution for Optimum Crop Production

Abstract: Electronic Crop (e-Crop) is an electronic crop simulator. The device computes how much food is produced by the plant using the given sunlight, water and other factors. It informs the farmer about the status of the crop, its input requirements to realize targeted yield as well as about the forecasts regarding the crop and scheduling of irrigation, nutrient applications, agronomic and plant protection operations. Forecasting of yield of the crop can be done more accurately at local, regional and national level. Device gives information to the farmer in the form of SMS. This device can be used for giving real-time agro advisory on any crop to reduce yield gap and to achieve targeted yield. One device is sufficient for different crops grown in a continuous geographical area with uniform weather conditions. It is a single point solution for many problems in agriculture. The main advantage of this IoT device is that it retrieves real time information about the various soil and weather parameters for analysis and thereby giving the respective farmer with precise advisory.

Textural and Rheological Attributes of the Tubers of Some Exotic Cassava Genotypes

Abstract: Cassava or tapioca ( Manihot esculenta Crantz) is one of the widely utilized tuber crops valued for its high carbohydrate content. Cassava is used after boiling as vegetable for consumption purpose. It is also processed into starch and flour. Textural properties of the raw and cooked tubers depend on variety, maturity, growing environment, physico-chemical properties, starch content and their properties. This study evaluated the textural properties of the raw and cooked tubers of selected exotic cassava genotypes. Also, the flours extracted from these genotypes were subjected to rheological characterisation by measuring their pasting properties. Cluster analysis was used to classify the genotypes based on the textural properties of raw tubers, texture profile of the cooked tubers and rheological properties of the flour. The textural and rheological properties significantly varied among the genotypes and based on these properties, the genotypes were classified into four groups: Group I- CE615, CE181, CE328,CE430, CE341, CE459, CI46, CE282, CI21 and CE440; Group II- CE423; Group III- CE365, CE364 and CE170 and Group IV- CE311, CE367, CE273, CE500, CE384 and CE215. This grouping based on the texture and rheology together was closer to the grouping based on the rheological properties alone, with the exception of CE423, which was most dissimilar in properties to the other genotypes. This clearly indicated that the rheological properties of starch can be the most important determining factor than the texture of the tubers for the classification of the cassava genotypes.