Conditions suitable

It grows better in warm and humid climate with well distributed rainfall. It can tolerate drought. Tapioca grows on all types of soils, but saline, alkaline and ill-drained soils are not suitable

Planting season

Plant the setts in April-May before the onset of south-west monsoon or september-October conciding with the north-east monsoon. Plant at any time of the year, if grown as an irrigated crop, but December-January planting is better.

Planting method

Mound method: This is followed in poorly drained soils. Mounds are prepared at a height of 25-30 cm. Ridge method: This followed in sloppy lands for rainfed crop and in level lands for irrigated crop. Ridges are prepared across the slope/ along the contour to a height of 25-30 cm. Flat method: this is followed in level lands with good drainage

Planting material

Select planting materials from mature healthy stems having 2-3 cm diamter. Discard the woody basal portion and tender top portion of the stem. prepare setts of 15-20 cm length with a smooth circular cut. setts prepared from stems stored for 15 days with leaves give better sprouting. Setts are planted vertically to 5 cm depth. Inverted planting should be avoided. Give 90 X 90 cm spacing for branching/semi-branching types and 75 X 75 cm cm for non branching/ erect branching types. Replace the dried up setts with fresh setts of longer size as early as possible

Intercropping

Gives an additional net income of Rs.3000-5000/ha within 3-3.5 months. Light, water and nutrients of the interspaces are better utilized. Weeds are controlled and organic matter and nitrogen are added to the soil. Select only bushy types of intercrop which mature within 100 days. Plant tapioca in the month of May-June at a spacing of 90 X 90 cm. Dibble the intercrop seeds immediately after planting of tapioca. Basal dress tapioca as per schedule given for pure stand. Apply the recommeded dose of NPK to the intercrops about 30 days after sowing followed by light interculturing. Top dress tapioca immediately after harvest of intercrops with recommended dose of fertilizers and earth up