Plants

arracacha

Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancr.

Family: Apiaceae · Genus: Arracacia

Peruvian carrot, white carrot

Placenta I Low No biomass production

arracacha — Franklin Checa · CC BY-SA · iNaturalist

Andean apiaceous tuber crop, cultivated mainly in southern Minas Gerais and Paraná. Pasini lists it in the medium stratum of Tabela 3. 8–10 month cycle; yellow roots with a flavor between carrot and celery.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Placenta I
Ecological role: Pioneer
Primary stratum: Low
Strata: Low
Biomass class: No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Moderate
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Waterlogging tolerance: Low
Soil pH range: 5–6
Preferred soil texture: Loamy

Morphology

Mature height: 0.2–1 m
Recommended spacing: 0.3–0.4 m
Root system: Taproot
Root depth: Medium
Growth rate: Very fast
Lifespan: ≤ 1 year
Time to first harvest: 9 months

Biomes & climate

Atlantic Forest Suitable
Cerrado Suitable

Köppen classes

Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Suitable
Humid subtropical (Cfa) Suitable

Where it fits in a guild

Arracacha takes the Low stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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🪴 Cultivation

A mild-climate crop: performs best at 15–18 °C mean annual temperature and altitudes above 800 m (ideal 1,000–2,500 m); adapts poorly to heat. Propagated by clump division, using offshoots from the mother plant. Spacing ~0.4 m between plants and 0.7–0.8 m between ridges. Very heavy or poorly drained soils give short, deformed roots.

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of arracacha?

The first harvest of arracacha comes around 9 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for arracacha?

The recommended spacing for arracacha is 0.3–0.4 m.

How tall does arracacha grow?

At maturity, arracacha reaches 0.2–1 m tall.

What stage and stratum does arracacha occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, arracacha belongs to the placenta i stage, occupying the low stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit

Propagation

Division

Citations

Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Tabela 3 (Incaper) , p. 116 (primary_stratum)
campoenegocios.com (ph_min, ph_max, spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, soil_texture_preference, cultivation_notes)
ciram.epagri.sc.gov.br (cultivation_notes, waterlogging_tolerance)