Two field experiments were carried out during the two successive growing
seasons of 2003 and 2004 on taro (local var.} at EL-Zahraa; Mansoura; Dakahlia
Governorate. Egypt (as a quite representation of north delta region). The main objective of this investigation was for study the effect of using
pre-sprouted taro corm seeds in plantation (new method) instead of the uri-sprouted
ones which are still used (conventional method). as well as the effect of planting date
on the vegetative growth. total yield and its components of taro plant. The results indipated that the percentage of plants emergence. plant height,
leaf area, fresh and dry weight of arial parts of plant, weight of corms/plant. average of
corm weight and total yield/feddan significantly increased by using pre-sprouted corm
seeds as compared with the uri-sprouted ones, the average increment in the total
yield / feddan reached (18.05 - 20.17 %) during the two study seasons .On the other
hand, dry matter, starch, protein, N. P, K, Ca, Mg and total oxalate contents in corm
were not affected by sprouting process. Concerning planting dates, results showed that the planting on (15^h March)
increased significantly the vegetative growth parameters and the total yield/feddan,
while, planting on (15\h April) significantly increased percentage of plants emergence
and led to an increase in corm constituents of dry matter, starch, protein, N, Ca, Mg
and total oxalate. The planting on (1'\ April) significantly increased corms weight
Iplant, and the average weight of corm. The interaction between sprouting methods of taro seeds and planting dates
showed that using pre-sprouted seeds for planting on( 15" March) increased the
vegetative growth parameters and the total yield! reddan under conditions of north
delta region. FinallY,it could be concluded thai success cultivation of taro plant through
different planting dates in this region might be good indicator for prolonging taro
productron season in the near future in Egypt