Mashua is tailored to the needs of resource-poor mountain people. The plant thrives on marginal soils, develops rapidly, and competes successfully with weeds. The proportion of dry matter allocated to the tubers may be as high as 75 percent (compared with 40 percent for many cereals). Yields have reached 70 tons per hectare on experimental plots. High levels of isothiocyanates known for their insecticidal, nematicidal, and bactericidal properties explain the virtual absence of pests and diseases in the crop. In Colombia, farmers plant mashua around potato fields, believing that this will repel potato pests. This crop has also been used as a medicine to cure kidney ailments and as a diuretic. In trials in Ayacucho, Peru, and Turrialba, Costa Rica, the nutritional value of mashua was shown to equal or surpass that of cereals. Despite its apparent value, however, mashua is little used, possibly because of its reputed effects as an anti-aphrodisiac or because of its strong flavor, which is somewhat of an acquired taste.