Two field experiments were carried out during the summer seasons of 2003
and 2004 on taro (local variety) in clayey loam soil at EI-Zahraa, Mansoura, Oakhalia
Govemorate, Egypt. This investigation aimed to study the effect of farmyard manure
levels (50, 60, 70 and SO m³Ifed.) and planting methods i.e., heratey planting as new
method and afier as a traditional method on vegetative growth parameters, yield
attributes, taro quality and some chemical contents of corm. The results indicate that
Heratey planting (new method) decreased the absent hills percentage by (40.9 and
36.75%) in both seasons respectively, compared with afier planting (traditional
method). Planting height, leaves number/plant, leaf area/plant, fresh weight of arial
parts/plant, corms fresh weight/plant, corm length, corm diameter, total yieldlfed,
nitrogen, protein, dry matter and starch content in corm were increased by applying
heratey planting method, whereas, dry weight of arial parts (%), average of corm
weight, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and total oxalate concentration in corm were
not significantly affected by either heratey or afeir planting methods during both         seasons.                                                                              ,:;, s. Application of farmyard manure at level (SOm³/fed) led to a significant
increase In all vegetative growth parameters except the dry weight of parts, while, the
percentage of an absent hills was not affected by different farmyard manure rates.
Increasing farmyard manure application level up to (80m³/fed) gave highest values of
yield and its components, as well as gave a positive effect on corm contents from
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, protein, dry matter, starch, calcium and total
oxalate. The interaction between planting methods and farmyard manure levels
showed that applying heratey planting method with farmyard manure (80m³/fed) gave
the maximum values of vegetative growth parameters, total yield by (S.7 - 11.53%)
and yield components, as well as, chemical contents and quality parameters of taro
corm. Generally, the results indicated that applying heratey planting as a new
method with FYM at (SOm³/fed.) would increase the total yield and improve corm
quality in addition to decrease the absent hills percentagelfed. and consequently led
to decrease the total cost productionlfeddan.