A STUDY OF SEED PRODUCTION PROCEDURES FOR Tacca palmata Blume

Abstract

Tacca palmata Blume is a medicinal plant whose roots are used as a medicine to regulate menstruation and treat poisonous snake bites. This species has been recorded in the Vietnam Red data Book (2007) with a rating of "Rare" (R). With the goal of creating a seed production procedure for Tacca palmata Blume, experiments on density, fertilizer application rate, harvesting time and assessment of pest and disease incidents were carried out. Research results showed that the distance of 30 x 30 cm (density of 70,000 plants/ha) was the most suitable for maximising seed yield of 228.08 kg/ha and germination rate of 87.77%. The optimal fertilizer rate was 6 tons of microbial organic fertilizer: 300 kg N: 500 kg P₂O₅: 350 kg K₂O/ha/year for maximising a yield of 310.23 kg/ha. At the time of 70% of the fruit was ripe, it was suitable to harvest Tacca palmata Blume seeds. Through pest monitoring, the main pests were black cutworm, rice leaf folder, root rot, powdery mildew and root - knot nematodes with a low to a rare incidence. Pests only appeared during the growing season and did not have much effect on plant growth and productivity.