scholarly journals The Making of a Montane Taro Garden

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Manuel Boissière
Keyword(s):  
Collective Memory ◽  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
Sweet Potato ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Colocasia Esculenta ◽  
High Altitudes ◽  
The Creation

Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is an essential crop in Papua New Guinea, especially in the highlands where taro grows at high altitudes (above 2,000 m) and sweet potato is absent. Taro and its cultivation are part of the collective memory of the Oksapmin society, in Sandaun province. The creation, maintenance, and harvest of a taro garden follow elaborate techniques and rules, the knowledge of which is not universal among villagers. This article describes the making of a taro garden by Oksapmin cultivators. The process is divided into two parts: activities related to the “mother garden”, where cuttings for the garden-to-be must be harvested, along with activities and techniques involved in preparing the new taro garden. The author discusses the significance of taro gardens in Oksapmin society.

Hirschmanniella miticausa. [Distribution map].

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Solomon Islands ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Colocasia Esculenta ◽  
Distribution Map ◽  
New Distribution

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Hirschmanniella miticausa Bridge et al. Nematoda: Tylenchida: Pratylenchidae Hosts: Taro (Colocasia esculenta). Information is given on the geographical distribution in OCEANIA, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, OCEANIA, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands.

Dasheen bacilliform badnavirus. [Distribution map].

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Solomon Islands ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Colocasia Esculenta ◽  
Distribution Map ◽  
Cook Islands ◽  
Xanthosoma Sagittifolium ◽  
New Distribution

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Dasheen bacilliform badnavirus Viruses: Caulimoviridae: Badnavirus Hosts: Colocasia esculenta, Xanthosoma sagittifolium. Information is given on the geographical distribution in OCEANIA, Cook islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu.

scholarly journals Kinetics of potassium release in sweet potato cropped soils: a case study in the highlands of Papua New Guinea

Solid Earth ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. K. Rajashekhar Rao
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
Sweet Potato ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Volcanic Soils ◽  
First Order ◽  
Release Pattern ◽  
K Release

Abstract. The present study attempts to employ potassium (K) release parameters to identify soil-quality degradation due to changed land use patterns in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) farms of the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Rapid population increase in the region increased pressure on the land to intensify subsistence production mainly by reducing fallow periods. Such continuous cropping practice coupled with lack of K fertilization practices could lead to a rapid loss of soil fertility and soil-resource degradation. The study aims to evaluate the effects of crop intensification on the K-release pattern and identify soil groups vulnerable to K depletion. Soils with widely differing exchangeable and non-exchangeable K contents were sequentially extracted for periods between 1 and 569 h in 0.01 M CaCl2, and K-release data were fitted to four mathematical models: first order, power, parabolic diffusion and Elovich equations. Results showed two distinct parts in the K-release curves, and 58–80% of total K was released to solution phase within 76 h (first five extractions) with 20–42% K released in the later parts (after 76 h). Soils from older farms that were subjected to intensive and prolonged land use showed significantly (P < 0.05) lower cumulative K-release potential than the farms recently brought to cultivation (new farms). Among the four equations, first-order and power equations best described the K-release pattern; the constant b, an index of K-release rates, ranged from 0.005 to 0.008 mg kg−1 h−1 in the first-order model and was between 0.14 and 0.83 mg kg−1 h−1 in the power model for the soils. In the non-volcanic soils, model constant b values were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the volcanic soils, thus indicating the vulnerability of volcanic soils to K deficiency. The volcanic soils cropped for several crop cycles need immediate management interventions either through improved fallow management or through mineral fertilizers plus animal manures to sustain productivity.

Assessment and rationalization of genetic diversity of Papua New Guinea taro (Colocasia esculenta) using SSR DNA fingerprinting

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 811-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Singh ◽  
E. S. Mace ◽  
I. D. Godwin ◽  
P. N. Mathur ◽  
T. Okpul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Dna Fingerprinting ◽  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Colocasia Esculenta

Integrated Nutrient Management Research with Sweet Potato in Papua New Guinea

2003 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred E. Hartemink
Keyword(s):  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
Sweet Potato ◽  
Tuber Yield ◽  
Poultry Litter ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Potato Yield ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizer ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Potato Yields

This paper summarizes a series of field experiments that investigated the effects of organic and inorganic nutrients on sweet potato tuber yield in the humid lowlands of Papua New Guinea. In the first experiment, plots were planted with Piper aduncum, Gliricidia sepium and Imperata cylindrica, which were slashed after one year, whereafter sweet potato was planted. Sweet potato yield was lowest after Gliricidia fallow, but no yield differences were found after piper and imperata fallow. In the second season, there was no significant difference in sweet potato yields. The second experiment consisted of a factorial fertilizer trial with four levels of N (0, 50, 100, 150 kg ha–1) and two levels of K (0, 50 kg ha–1). Nitrogen fertilizers increased yield in the first season, but depressed tuber yields in the second and third seasons. Potassium fertilizer had no effect on marketable tuber yield. The third experiment consisted of a comparison between N from inorganic fertilizer and poultry litter at four rates (0, 50, 100, 150 kg ha–1). No difference was found between the inorganic fertilizer and poultry litter, and the highest yields were found at 100 kg N ha–1. In the second season no significant response was observed. Although yield variation was considerable, this series of experiments has shown that sweet potato yield can be significantly increased by inorganic or organic N applications. Sweet potato yields after fallows were less variable than after inorganic nutrient inputs. Inputs of inorganic fertilizer or poultry litter may strongly increase or decrease tuber yields.

Effects of dasheen mosaic virus and a large bacilliform particle on the anatomy and ultrastructure of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott (Araceae)

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 976-977
Author(s):  
B. D. Stein ◽  
M. S. Strauss
Keyword(s):  
Mosaic Virus ◽  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
Solomon Islands ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Colocasia Esculenta ◽  
Viral Diseases ◽  
Root Crop ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Port Moresby ◽  
Anatomy And Ultrastructure

Taro, Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott (Araceae) is a monocot grown as a starchy root crop in much of the tropics and subtropics. It is subject to a number of fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases. Viral diseases have inhibited the cultivation of taro in parts of New Guinea and the Solomon Islands where taro is an integral part of the culture. Two different viruses, a Rhabdovirus, the Large Bacilliform Particle (LBP), and a smaller bacilliform virus, are the cause. Dasheen Mosaic Virus, a Potyvirus, has been found wherever taro is cultivated and produces a leaf mottle but is not lethal to plants.Colocasia esculenta cv K268 corms, infected with virus, were obtained from Michael Pearson, Department of Botany, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, New Guinea. Upon planting some of the corms produced leaves with virus symptoms. Others were symptomless but symptoms could be induced by stress.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document