Abstract
In Argentina, cassava (Manihot esculenta) production does not meet the national demand. The aim of this work was to analyze the effects of two planting systems of the stem cuttings (horizontal and vertical), two plant densities (10,000 and 20,000 plant ha-1) and two cassava genotypes (cv. Palomita and Blanca de Santa Catarina) on biometric variables and on root and starch yields by means of a field experiment carried out in Corrientes, Argentina. Eight treatments were distributed following a randomized complete block design. The following variables were evaluated: cutting sprouting percentage, plant height, percentage of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (PARi); total, shoot and root fresh weight per hectare and/or per plant; starch production per hectare and weed dry biomass. Blanca de Santa Catarina (BSC) demonstrated the best yield potential. Vertical planting determined higher sprouting percentages, plant length and PARi, consequently greater conversion into biomass and starch. Higher plant density was associated with lower weed dry biomass and with lower root yield per plant. In conclusion, in cassava producing areas, such as Corrientes, which has sandy soils, the vertical planting system at a density of 10,000 plant ha-1 with the cv. BSC could be recommended to increase cassava yield without additional costs.
Highlights
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz, Euphorbiaceae), one of the three major tuberous crops produced worldwide, is a main material for starch and alcohol production (Balagopalan et al, 2002)
To perform the ANOVA, data that did not have a Gaussian distribution were transformed by log10 (x + 2), such as photosynthetically active radiation (PARi), root fresh weight and starch production per hectare, and weed dry biomass. Simple factors evaluated such as genotype (G) (P < 0.0001), planting system (PS) (P < 0.0001), plant density (PD) (P = 0.0161) and their two-way interactions produced a significant effect on cassava cutting sprouting
Blanca de Santa Catarina (BSC) proved to be sensitive to the planting system showing a significant increase in the cutting sprouting percentage when it was vertically positioned, but not the cv
Summary
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz, Euphorbiaceae), one of the three major tuberous crops produced worldwide, is a main material for starch and alcohol production (Balagopalan et al, 2002). Argentine cassava root production is not enough to satisfy its domestic starch demand, where the idle capacity of cassava industries exceeds 50% (Aristizábal & Calle, 2015). In this context, cassava starch represented 32% of the total starches imported during the period 2000-. Improve cassava productivity with a better crop management and without any additional cost, should include the most effective options such as to choose the appropriate genotype, the suitable plant density and an optimal weed control methodology (Howeler, 2014)
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