Influence of sett fresh weight and depth of planting on performance of arracacha

Quantitative information on the performance of arracacha is limited as to t he influence of sett size and depth. Setts for propagation of this crop var y in size and fresh weight. Depth of planting appears to influence yield. T he objectives of this study were to evaluate the influence of combinations of sett fresh weight and depth of planting on arracacha's emergence, stand, and dry matter and corm fresh weight at harvest, and to assess the quantit y and fresh weight of setts produced by a plant after completing the growin g cycle. Plants grown from setts weighing 36 g and 60 g did not differ in d ry weight, leaf area, fresh weight of the corm at harvest nor in percentage s of emergence and stand. Plants from the setts weighing 16 g had less leaf area, less corm dry weight and fewer percentages of emergence and stand th an plants from the setts of 60 g. Planting deeper significantly increased c orm fresh and dry weights, but decreased the percentages of emergence and s tand. Differences in the size of the setts produced by the plant are in par t a consequence of the sequential development of the buds within the corm. In plants sampled at 228 and 256 days after planting the number of setts ra nged from 10 to 23, averaging 16 +/- 4 SD per plant. At harvest, the fresh weight of individual setts ranged from 9 to 73 g, averaging 38 g +/- 20 SD. Avoiding the use of small setts may improve chances for better stand and p roductivity.