Characterization of a popular cassava product obtained from fertilizer treated new and conventional cassava varieties towards achieving zero hunger

Abstract

As part of the effort to achieve zero hunger, the effect of fertilizer application on cassava roots was investigated on the quality attributes of a popular consumer product (gari) in Nigeria and other West African countries. A 2×3 full factorial design was used for the study. The study assessed the impact of varying fertilizer treatment levels (FTL) (0% (control), 50% (45, 20 and 35 kg/hectare of NPK-12-12-17, Muriate of Potash and Urea, respectively) and 100% (90, 40 and 70 kg/hectare of NPK-12-12-17, Muriate of Potash and Urea, respectively) of two cassava varieties (TMS 98/0505 and Oko-‘yawo) on the yield, chemical, physico-chemical and sensory parameters of gari. The data were subjected to Analysis of Variance, while means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test at p<0.05. There was a significant increase in yield, crude fat, crude protein, ash, and starch contents with an increase in FTL, while there was a significant reduction in cyanide with an increase in FTL from both cassava varieties. The bulk density and swelling capacity significantly decreased with an increase in FTL while water absorption capacity, reconstitution index, least gelation and pasting characteristics except for final viscosity, increased with an increase in FTL in gari from both cassava varieties. The sensory evaluation showed about 90% and 75% preference for gari from oko-’yawo and TMS 98/0505 without fertilizer treatment respectively. Fertilizer application had positive impacts on many objective parameters evaluated on the gari produced from both varieties and the one from TMS 98/0505 showed better characteristics than oko-’yawo at the same FTL. The subjective parameters were however not improved with fertilizer application.