Lesser yam- Planting activities

Lesser yam is propagated through tubers. Select medium size tubers weighing about 100-150 gram each. To plant one acre 720-1080 kg of seed materials are required.

Seed tubers are normally planted during the later part of the dry season (March-April) and start sprouting with the onset of pre-monsoon showers.

Plough or dig the land to a depth of 15-20 cm. Prepare mounds at a spacing of 75 cm x 75 cm incorporating cattle manure @ 1 kg per mound.

Plant the whole tuber, one in each mound and cover completely with soil. Mulch the mounds to maintain optimum temperature and moisture.

Lime or dolomite has to be applied in acid soils two weeks ahead of fertilizer application.

The first split of fertilizer has to be applied at the time when 50 % of the sets have sprouted.