Analysis of Factors Influencing the Yield of Manihot esculenta in Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Manihot esculenta popularly called Cassava is a root tuber that is highly consumed. It is one of the staple foods commonly grown in the tropical region found to be readily available and constitutes economical raw material that can sustain many industries. Many factors affect its yield, three of these factors: cassava type, planting season, soil composition on cassava yield were examined. Data used were obtained from Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike. 23 factorial design was employed where the factors are regarded as main effects and their interactions where each of the factors was examined at two levels conventionally regarded as low and high levels. The result of the analysis showed that the 3 main factors have significant effects on the yield of cassava at α=1% and 5% levels of significance. Thus farmers are called upon to arise and grow good species of cassava while giving consideration to the planting season and the type of soil for bumper harvest that will boost job creation and wealth creation for our people and then sustain industrialization.