Effects of Watering Regimes and Planting Density on Taro (Colocasia esculenta) Growth, Yield, and Yield Components in Embu, Kenya

Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) is one of the most underutilized crops in sub-Saharan Africa and an important staple food tropics. Understanding its growth response under selected watering regimes planting densities underpins this research. A study was conducted at Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Embu Centre, during long rains (LR) 2021 short (SR) 2021–2022. factorial experiment with a split-plot layout arranged completely randomized block design used. The main factor irrigation levels, while subfactor density, three replications. levels were 100%, 60%, 30% based on field capacity (FC). used 0.5 m × (40,000 plants ha−1), 1 (20,000 (10,000 representative high, medium, low densities, respectively. Time season ( P < 0.05 ) significantly influenced taro components (plant height, leaf area, area index, vegetative index) yield (corm length, corm diameter, mass, yield, total biomass). Planting density index id="M2"> ). regime did not affect or components. Corm mass (0.59 kg), biomass (49.8 t/ha), (13.38 t/ha) all highest FC. spacing produced (0.62 kg). high (0.5 m) resulted (70.2 (20.84 harvest (30.44%). As result, FC are recommended to farmers for increased yields security.