Korean Journal of Plant Resources ISSN:1226-3591(Print) 2287-8203(Online) 한국자원식물학회지

This study was conducted to establish a domestic cultivation system of a newly introduced yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus L.). Growth and yield were investigated in response to various cultural practices, such as seedling raising, planting distance, pinching, and flower pruning. Optimum conditions for raising of seedling were an average temperature of 22℃ for 30 days. Considering of the raising efficiency and the convenience of transplanting, 128 cells per tray was a suitable size. When pinching at a height of 120 ㎝ from late July to early August, yield increased by 22% compared to no pinching. Flower pruning between late August and early September increased the number of tubers and tuber yield by 32% in comparison with no flower pruning. Yam bean seedlings planted at 50 ㎝× 30 ㎝ spacing resulted in 30% yield increase as compared to wider spacing of 100 ㎝× 30 ㎝. Our results thus suggested that the optimal combination of cultural practices (50 × 30 ㎝ planting distance, pinching at 120 ㎝ height, and one time of flower pruning) increase profitability by 107%. All these results suggest high possibility of yam bean as a new income crop in Korea.