Stem portion and number of stakes influence on growth and yield of cassava variety in the South East, Nigeria

D.A Okpara,O.K Akinbo,A.O Olojede,O.N Eke-Okoro,D.C Udeh

doi:10.4314/as.v21i1.7

Abstract

Investigations were conducted to study the effect of stem portion and number of stakes per stand on crop establishment, growth and yield of cassava variety NR 8082 in Umudike Southeastern Nigeria during the 2016/17 and 2017/18 cropping seasons. In each year, the experiment was laid out as a 3 × 3 factorial, in randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments consisted of three stem portions of different physiological ages (top, middle and basal) and three numbers of stakes per stand (1, 2 and 3). The middle and basal stem portions significantly increased percent establishment, plant height and leaf area index at 3 months after planting (MAP) but had no effect on number of storage roots per plant. The best stem portion for storage root yield was, however, the top portion which produced the highest yield on average. Number of stakes per stand did not significantly affect stem girth, number of nodes per plant and leaf area index, but the use of 1 stake per stand increased number of storage roots per plant, root weight and storage oot yield in 2017/2018 cropping season. Number of stakes per stand did not significantly influence storage root yield across the two seasons of evaluation. Interactions between stem portion and number of stakes per stand did not significantly affect storage root yield of NR 8082 high cassava variety in both cropping seasons. Based on the findings, the use of 1 stake per stand is recommended for high root yields of NR 8082 cassava variety under conditions of low soil fertility in Umudike, South East Nigeria. Although the top portion enhanced root yield, farmers could use any of the stem portions, since the middle and basal parts gave satisfactory yields and had better establishment than the former.

Highlights

Cassava (Manihot esculentus Crantz) is a perennial woody shrub which is primarily grown as annual crop in the humid tropics (Bellotti et al, 2011; ElSharkawy, 2012)
At all number of stakes per stand progressing from the top to basal portion, there was a significant increase in crop establishment
In conclusion, under the condition of this study, the results demonstrated that stem portion had significant effects on cassava crop establishment, plant height, leaf area index, storage root weight and yield

Summary

Introduction

Cassava (Manihot esculentus Crantz) is a perennial woody shrub which is primarily grown as annual crop in the humid tropics (Bellotti et al, 2011; ElSharkawy, 2012). Tufan (2013) reiterated that no other continent depends on cassava to feed as many as 500 million people daily as Africa. It is a major food crop in Nigeria and is strategically valued for its role in food security, poverty alleviation and as source of raw material for agro-allied industries with huge potential for export market (CEDP, 2005; Egesi et al, 2006). Cassava root is prepared in various forms such as garri, fufu and tapioca; as major industrial raw material, it is used for production of starch, alcohol, pharmaceutics, gums, confectionaries and livestock feed (Eke-Okoro et al, 1999). Yields in farmers’ fields are low due to low soil fertility or use of inappropriate agronomic practices (Eke-Okoro, 1997; Okpara et al, 2010)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion