ARROWROOT

ARROWROOT (ARARO)

 

The arrowroot, a root crop, grows in any kind of soil, but it prefers a somewhat shaded area

such as that under the coconut trees, and where rainfall is even the whole year round. Its

roots can withstand typhoon and may be left in the ground for a long time. It will grow from any

small piece of its root crop left in the soil.

 

Arrowroot is ready to harvest ten months after planting. In ordinary soil, it can harvest about

18 tons per hectare. However, it was proven that if the soil is fertilized with 90 kilos nitrogen

per hectare, the harvest can go up as high as 18 tons per hectare. When the fertilizer was

doubled, the harvest reached 27 tons per hectare.

 

Uses of the arrowroot plant

 

The arrowroot is used as food for both man and animal and as materials in the manufacture of

medicines as well as industry, such as:

 

1. flour from arrowroot is used for baking first class biscuits.

2. for thickening ice cream.

3. like corn, it may be broiled and eaten.

4. as poultry feed, it can be substitute for 25% yellow corn.

5. its item, leaves and wastes are feed for ruminants (cow, goats, carabao).

 

from: GREENFIELD AUGUST 1990