Abstract
The development of cassava varieties with more efficient nutrient absorption can prevent losses caused by weed competition. The objective of this study was to evaluate dry matter accumulation and leaf nutrient content in traditional and improved cassava varieties, with and without coexistence with weeds throughout the cycle. A randomized complete block design was used in a 2 x 2 x 11 factorial scheme with four replications. The first factor consisted of two varieties (Baianinha and Clone 56-03); the second factor was composed of the conditions with and without coexistence with weeds, and the third factor was 11 harvest periods. Coexistence with weeds reduced leaf contents of N (20.8% and 24.8%), P (26.7% and 4.6%) and K (27.1% and 12.6%) for 'Baianinha' and 'Clone 56-03', respectively. For coexistence with 'Baianinha', the period up to the maximum daily nutrient accumulation rate (N, P and K) ranged from 82 to 99 days after planting (DAP), while for 'Clone 56-03', coexistence in this period ranged from 80 to 88 DAP. The plants from the variety 'Clone 56-03' presented higher total dry mass and root dry mass accumulation, as well as higher leaf contents of N, P and K than the traditional cassava variety 'Baianinha', especially when in coexistence with weeds during the whole cycle.
Highlights
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is cultivated in nearly 104 countries, in regions of Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and even Oceania (Fao, 2018)
The first factor consisted of two varieties (‘Baianinha’ and Clone 56-03); the second factor was crop-weed coexistence conditions, and the third factor was 11 periods (20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200 and 220 days after planting)
In the absence of coexistence with weeds, the plants ‘Clone 56-03’ presented fast growth and higher total dry mass accumulation that that of the plants of the traditional variety ‘Baianinha’ (Figure 1A). This result is evidence of the highest competitive potential of ‘Clone 56-03’. This fact can be confirmed by the result; total dry mass accumulation of ‘Clone 56-03’ plants in coexistence with weeds was similar to the value found for ‘Baianinha’ without coexistence
Summary
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is cultivated in nearly 104 countries, in regions of Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and even Oceania (Fao, 2018). In these regions, the cassava crop is the main source of staple food of about one billion people with low income (Latif & Muller, 2015). Because of the rusticity of cassava plants, producers do not apply fertilizers during the crop cycle; instead, cassava crops receive the remains from fertilizers used in previous crops in the same area (Ezui et al, 2016) This fact intensifies the effects of competition between weeds and the main crop for environmental resources, especially nutrients (Mortensen et al, 2012; A’ihi et al, 2017)
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