Continuing with the content on the cultivation of Chinese Ocumo (Colocasia esculenta (L) Schott), it is native to Asia, probably from India or Malaysia. During prehistoric times its cultivation spread to the Pacific Islands.
▶ After spreading to the Pacific Islands, it was later taken to the Mediterranean and western India, tropical America and south to the coasts of the United States of America.
This crop is widely spread from the tropics to the limits of temperate regions. It is an essentially tropical plant, requiring high rainfall of 1,800 to 2,500 mm, well distributed, temperatures between 25 and 35 °C and good luminosity.
It grows preferably in swampy areas and under water. It can also be grown in clay soils, but with good humidity at harvest time. Apparently this plant is able to transport oxygen from the aerial parts to the roots, which makes it possible for them to grow and develop normally.
The knowledge of the interference capacity of weeds in crops is important in the decision making for the operation of the control, in order to obtain a good growth and development of the crop. Weeds also play an important role in the development of agricultural crops.
They constitute a series of threats to the good development of the crop, competing for CO2, light, nutrients, water and space. They can also behave as hosts for pests and diseases in temperate climates.
