Effects of land quality, management and cropping systems on cassava production in southern western Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess the effects of land quality, management and cropping system on cassava production in the derived savanna and rain forest of southwestern Nigeria. Soil quality was studied from farmers’ fields which had been under cassava cultivation for at least ten (10) years. The yield data obtained from different crop mixtures and management practices were compared with the performance of cassava. The results showed great diversity of soils suitable for cassava production but good management and cropping system determined the yield. Maximum yield (78.5 t.ha-1) of cassava was recorded on fertile, sandy clay loam soil (Apomu series, Eutric Luvisol) intercropped with maize, followed with cowpea in relay cropping. Lowest yield (3.3 t.ha-1) was obtained on degraded low fertility compacted sandy soil of shante series (Albic Luvisol) under maize/cassava/crop mixture, with cashew. The results indicated that the more the use of appropriate agricultural input, management level and land requirement, the more the yield of cassava across the ecological zones studied.