No-Till Taro Production in Hawai'i

Abstract

A major portion of the taro produced in Hawai'i is cultivated under dryland conditions. Practically all taro farmers plow and disc their fields to provide a vegetation-free surface before the crop is planted. Unprotected fields are very susceptible to soil erosion due to heavy rains and a lack of soil-conserving practices such as terracing and contour farming. No-till taro production is being introduced in Hawai'i to provide growers with a means of planting their crop to fields protected by a thick layer of mulch to reduce soil erosion and minimize the need for heavy equipment for land preparation.