Taro grown on hillsides yields high income.

(Baonghean) - Hill taro, also known as mountain taro or yam, is a food crop with high economic value, providing a stable and higher income compared to growing upland rice in mountainous areas.

In the mountainous district of Kỳ Sơn, taro is grown intensively in the communes of Huồi Tụ, Mường Lống, Đoọc Mạy, Na Ngoi, and Tây Sơn. Besides being a valuable food crop, highly favored by the local people, taro is also used as an important medicinal ingredient in traditional Eastern medicine to support the treatment of conditions such as: stomach pain, spleen deficiency, physical weakness, increased physical strength, kidney inflammation, dysentery, and joint pain. Currently, the entire district has hundreds of hectares of taro with a total annual production of nearly 1,000 tons, bringing a significant income to the people in the highlands.

Planting techniques:

Often grown in mountainous provinces, it helps protect the soil and prevent erosion. The average yield is 5-6 tons/ha, reaching 12-13 tons/ha in good soil.

Select the breed:

There are two varieties: the white-stemmed variety and the purple-stemmed variety. The white-stemmed variety has a higher average plant height, larger tuber weight per clump, and higher tuber yield.

When planting, choose the white-stemmed variety, selecting healthy, disease-free, round, and evenly shaped seed tubers from the main tuber, weighing approximately 50g. Do not use tubers with long sprouts or granddaughter tubers (granddaughter tubers are those that grow from the main tuber) for planting. Before planting, sun-dry the seed tubers for 2-3 days to encourage sprouting.

Sweet potatoes are planted in January and February of the lunar calendar, ideally around the beginning of spring, so that after planting, the spring rains will help the plants grow favorably.

Soil preparation:

The land was thoroughly plowed and all weeds were removed. Holes measuring 20 x 20 x 20 cm were dug.

Depending on the local climate and soil conditions, planting distances and densities can be as follows: 70 x 80 cm spacing, density of 20,400 plants/ha; 80 x 80 cm spacing, density of 15,600 plants/ha; 90 x 90 cm spacing, density of 12,300 plants/ha.

Apply 8-10 tons of organic fertilizer per hectare as base fertilizer; an average of about 0.5-0.8 kg per planting hole. Apply top dressing of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. The amount of fertilizer per 1 Northern Vietnamese acre (sào): 4-7 quintals of manure; 2-3 kg of urea; 10-12 kg of fused phosphate fertilizer; 2-4 kg of potassium sulfate. Apply all the manure and phosphate fertilizer, and half of the nitrogen and potassium fertilizers to the soil before planting. The remaining nitrogen and potassium fertilizers can be applied as top dressing 1-2 times after planting, 3-6 months later. When planting, place the seed tubers at a depth of 7-8 cm, avoiding direct contact with the fertilizer, and cover with soil. After planting, cover with straw or dry grass to retain soil moisture and control weeds.

Taro plants prefer moist conditions, but waterlogging hinders root development. After planting, when the air temperature is not yet high and the plants are not yet large, simply keep the soil moist (65-75%). During the tuber formation period, the plants grow and develop vigorously and require plenty of water.
Therefore, it is important to water the plants regularly and avoid letting them suffer from drought during this period.

For flat land, after 2-3 months of planting, when the plants are growing vigorously, create raised beds 15-20 cm high and 40-50 cm wide to encourage the growth of adventitious roots, increasing drought resistance, limiting the emergence of new shoots, and creating favorable conditions for the mother plant to develop. For sloping land, mound the soil around the base of the plants.

It is necessary to take precautions against several types of pests and diseases: aphids, red mites, leaf blight, and tuber rot; among which, downy mildew often occurs during periods of high temperature and high humidity.

When the leaves turn yellow and dry out, the tubers are mature, have a high starch content, and a delicious flavor, ready for harvest. The main harvest is in mid-September. If the tubers are intended for seed, they must be allowed to mature completely before harvesting. After harvesting, the tubers do not need to be washed and should be stored in a cool, dry place.

Farmers should also note that because the growing season for mountain taro is relatively long (about 8 months), to increase income per unit area, it is advisable to intercrop it with peanuts, soybeans, or some leafy vegetables.

For lowland areas, when planting taro, raised beds should be created.

Phu Huong (St)