Arsenic Accumulation in Elephant Foot Yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Dennst. Nicolson)in Deltaic West Bengal : Effect of Irrigation Sources and Nutrient Management

Authors

  • S. Mondal Regional Research Station (Old Alluvial Zone), Majhian, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Patiram 733 133, Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal, India
  • P. Bandopadhyay Department of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani 741 235, Nadia, West Bengal, India
  • R. Kundu Department of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani 741 235, Nadia, West Bengal, India
  • S. Pal Department of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani 741 235, Nadia, West Bengal, India

Abstract

In India, Arsenic (As) toxicity problem is prevalent in the endemic areas of Ganges delta of West Bengal, especially, in irrigated crops. Elephant foot yam is a popular vegetable in this region and fits well into cropping systems under irrigated conditions. The present study was aimed to assess As contamination in the crop and to explore possibilities of reducing the accumulation through the use of harvested rain water along with nutrient management with greater emphasis on organic manures. Field experiments were conducted at Nonaghata-Uttarpara village, Haringhata block, Nadia district, during summer seasons of 2009 and 2010. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with two irrigation sources in main plots and four nutrient levels in sub plots, replicated thrice. Irrigation sources were shallow tube well (STW) and pond water (PW). Nutrient management options were recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) (NPK @ 200:120:140 kg ha-1) + FYM @ 10 t ha-1, RDF + higher dose of P (double the dose of P) (NPK @ 200:240:140 kg ha-1) + FYM @ 10 t ha-1, 75% RDF (NPK @150:90:105 kg ha-1) + FYM @ 10 t ha-1 and 75% RDF + higher dose of P (NPK @ 150:180:105 kg ha-1) + FYM @10 t ha-1. Results revealed that corm yield did not vary significantly between the irrigation sources, but As accumulation was higher under irrigation from shallow tube well. Application of 75% RDF + double the dose of P (NPK @ 150:180:105 kg ha-1) + FYM @10 t ha-1 resulted in maximum yield with the least As accumulation.

Author Biography

S. Mondal, Regional Research Station (Old Alluvial Zone), Majhian, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Patiram 733 133, Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal, India

   1, 1    2    Corresponding author: R. Kundu, e-mail:

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Published

2013-07-25

How to Cite

Mondal, S., Bandopadhyay, P., Kundu, R., & Pal, S. (2013). Arsenic Accumulation in Elephant Foot Yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Dennst. Nicolson)in Deltaic West Bengal : Effect of Irrigation Sources and Nutrient Management. JOURNAL OF ROOT CROPS, 38(1), 46. Retrieved from https://ojs338.isrc.in/index.php/jrc/article/view/57