Cassava Cuttings Research Articles

Red-Green-Blue and Multispectral Imaging as Potential Tools for Estimating Growth and Nutritional Performance of Cassava under Deficit Irrigation and Potassium Fertigation

Cassava has high energy value and rich nutritional content, yet its productivity in the tropics is seriously constrained by abiotic stresses such as water deficit and low potassium (K) nutrition. Systems that allow evaluation of genotypes in the field and greenhouse for nondestructive estimation of plant performance would be useful means for monitoring the health of plants for crop-management decisions. We investigated whether the red–green–blue (RGB) and multispectral images could be used to detect the previsual effects of water deficit and low K in cassava, and whether the crop quality changes due to low moisture and low K could be observed from the images. Pot experiments were conducted with cassava cuttings. The experimental design was a split-plot arranged in a completely randomized design. Treatments were three irrigation doses split into various K rates. Plant images were captured beginning 30 days after planting (DAP) and ended at 90 DAP when plants were harvested. Results show that biomass, chlorophyll, and net photosynthesis were estimated with the highest accuracy (R2 = 0.90), followed by leaf area (R2 = 0.76). Starch, energy, carotenoid, and cyanide were also estimated satisfactorily (R2 > 0.80), although cyanide showed negative regression coefficients. All mineral elements showed lower estimation accuracy (R2 = 0.14–0.48) and exhibited weak associations with the spectral indices. Use of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), green area (GA), and simple ratio (SR) indices allowed better estimation of growth and key nutritional traits. Irrigation dose 30% of pot capacity enriched with 0.01 mM K reduced most index values but increased the crop senescence index (CSI). Increasing K to 16 mM over the irrigation doses resulted in high index values, but low CSI. The findings indicate that RGB and multispectral imaging can provide indirect measurements of growth and key nutritional traits in cassava. Hence, they can be used as a tool in various breeding programs to facilitate cultivar evaluation and support management decisions to avert stress, such as the decision to irrigate or apply fertilizers.

A Comparison of Economic Efficiency of Monoculture and Multiple Cropping Patterns: The Case of Cassava Farming in Ende, Indonesia

<span lang="EN-US">Nuabosi cassava is an alternative carbohydrate source for the community, which is expected to be a substitute for rice. This commodity has the potential to be developed, but is limited in resources, so it requires technological breakthroughs. This study aims at analyzing the level of technical, allocative and economic efficiency between the cassava cropping pattern and the factors that affect the efficiency. The research was conducted in Randotonda Village, from November 2019 to January 2020 and the samples consisted of 61 monoculture farmers and 46 multiple cropping farmers. Data analysis was performed using the Cobb-Douglass stochastic frontier production function. The allocative and economic efficiency was examined with the stochastic frontier cost function approach. The results of stochastic frontier estimation show that all variables have a positive effect on the production variable. The variables having a positive effect on the total cost include the price of cassava cuttings, the price of fertilizer, production and the dummy cropping pattern. The average level of economic efficiency of monoculture farmers is lower than that of multiple cropping farmers. Factors that affect economic efficiency are age, length of time to cultivate, frequency of obtaining information, dummy of farmer group membership and dummy of cropping patterns. In short, the level of technical, allocative and economic efficiency of monoculture farmers is lower than that of multiple cropping farmers. Farmers are expected to pay attention to the types of plants that are suitable in implementing the multiple cropping pattern</span><span lang="IN">.</span>

Seed cassava cuttings production

Este experimento foi realizado para melhorar a técnica de propagação rápida em diferentes substratos aplicados às culturas de mandioca, a fim de multiplicar genótipos tradicionais com base em características selecionadas. A primeira etapa do estudo foi realizada em setembro de 2016 em camas ao ar livre cobertas com plástico transparente. Foram testados quatro genótipos tradicionais de mandioca e uma cultivar de mandioca (Fepagro RS13). Medições das temperaturas do ar e do solo foram realizadas durante todo o experimento até que mais da metade dos adubos plantados foram germinados. As medições pararam quando a maioria das plântulas brotou. A segunda etapa do experimento foi realizada em novembro de 2016 (corte em diferentes substratos), quando as plantas apresentaram quatro folhas totalmente expandidas. Os brotos foram cortados e transplantados para recipientes individuais com quatro substratos diferentes (água, areia, solo e substrato comercial). Após o transplante, as mudas foram armazenadas em casa de vegetação, sob temperatura e irrigação controladas. Folhas, caule e raízes secas e massas frescas e o tamanho das três raízes mais longas por planta foram avaliados 40 dias após o início do experimento. As cultivares Fepagro RS13 e SJ13 se destacaram entre as variedades avaliadas, por apresentarem bom potencial para multiplicação rápida. Substratos comerciais podem ser uma alternativa para propagação rápida. porque eles apresentaram bom potencial para multiplicação rápida. Substratos comerciais podem ser uma alternativa para propagação rápida. porque eles apresentaram bom potencial para multiplicação rápida. Substratos comerciais podem ser uma alternativa para propagação rápida.

Growth Response of Cassava to Deficit Irrigation and Potassium Fertigation during the Early Growth Phase

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) experiences intermittent water deficit and suffers from potassium (K) deficiency that seriously constrains its yield in the tropics. Currently, the interaction effect between deficit irrigation and K fertigation on growth and yield of cassava is unknown, especially during the early growth phase. Therefore, pot experiments were conducted under controlled greenhouse conditions using cassava cuttings. Treatments initiated at 30 days after planting included three irrigation doses (30%, 60%, 100% pot capacity) and five K (0.01, 1, 4, 16, and 32 mM) concentrations. The plants were harvested 90 days after planting. Decreasing irrigation dose to 30% together with 16 mM K lowered the leaf water potential by 69%, leaf osmotic potential by 41%, photosynthesis by 35%, stomatal conductance by 41%, water usage by 50%, leaf area by 17%, and whole-plant dry mass by 41%, compared with full-irrigated plants. Lowering the K concentration below 16 mM reduced the values further. Notably, growth and yield were decreased the least compared with optimal, when irrigation dose was decreased to 60% together with 16 mM K. The results demonstrate that deficit irrigation strategies could be utilized to develop management practices to improve cassava productivity by means of K fertigation under low moisture conditions.

Tillage and rice mill wastes mulch and their effects on soil properties and yield of cassava (Manihot spp.) on a Typic psamment at Abakaliliki, Southeastern Nigeria

The experiment was undertaken using cassava (Manihot spp) to evaluate effects of different tillage practices and mulching (raised mulched bed, raised not mulched bed, flat mulched bed, flat not mulched bed, untilled mulched bed and untilled not mulched bed) on soil properties and cassava sprouting and yield in 2016 and 2017 planting seasons on a Typic psamment in Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Southeastern Nigeria. The experimental study is made up of six treatments, arranged in randomized complete block design and replicated four times. The results indicated significantly (P<0.05) higher (28.18 – 27.16%) GMC in beds mulched than corresponding values (17.10 – 15.26% and 16.20 – 15.10%) obtained in untilled mulched and untilled not mulched beds for both seasons. Results showed that available P, N, Ca and Mg were respectively higher (P<0.05) in mulched raised beds when compared to those of untilled mulched or untilled not mulched beds by 31 – 28%, 32 – 71%, 50 – 33%, 50 – 30%, 89 – 67% and 49 – 26%, 91–71%. At 28 DAP for 2016 and 2017 planting seasons results showed that 90–78% of the planted cassava cuttings sprouted between 14 – 17 days earlier in both tilled mulched beds and tilled not mulched beds compared to untilled mulched or untilled not mulched beds (5 – 48%). These were (P<0.05) 40 – 50% and 47–37% significantly higher in tilled mulched and tilled not mulched beds when compared to untilled mulched and untilled not mulched beds. At harvest (300 DAP), highest cassava tuber yield (7.5–7.3t ha-1 ) were obtained in raised mulched beds for 2016 and 2017. Cassava yields were (p<0.05) higher in raised mulched beds by 60 and 59% compared to their counterparts in untilled not mulched beds for the seasons. These findings imply that rice mill wastes mulch provide a good and conducive soil condition for cassava than unmulched or untilled environment and raised mulched beds provide more robust condition for cassava production relative to other treatments tested in this study

Effect of nursery techniques on early growth attributes of minisett-cultivated cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Investigations were done to find out the effect of nursery techniques on minisett-cultivated cassava at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala during April to June 2017. The objective was to find out a viable nursery technique for cassava minisett cultivation. For this two types of minisett cuttings and three types of potting media were tried in the nursery. The three-node cuttings of cassava minisett resulted in significantly higher seedling sprouting, shoot length, shoot biomass, root length and root biomass. Among different potting media used in the experiment, coir pith compost and vermicompost in the ratio of 3: 1 and normal top soil and coir pith compost in the ratio of 1: 1 resulted in higher seedling sprouting compared to normal top soil as potting medium but former treatment performed better with respect to shoot length, shoot biomass, root length and root biomass of minisett seedlings. The interaction of three-node cuttings of cassava minisett and coir pith compost and vermicompost in the ratio of 3: 1 gave better results than other combinations. The results of the study indicated that raising three-noded minisett cassava cuttings in potting medium containing coir pith compost and vermicompost in the ratio of 3: 1 in the nursery performed better wrt shoot length, shoot biomass, root length and root biomass.

Manganese fertilization for sweet cassava production under organic management system

ABSTRACT Organic management farms in the Federal District, Brazil, usually present overlimed and overfertilized soils, with high content of organic matter and high pH. These conditions lead to a low availability of manganese to crops. Many sweet cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) crops were diagnosed with Mn deficiency in the region, presenting low yields. In order to overcome such condition, an experiment was established comprising the following treatments: application of MnSO4 banded in rows; treatment of cassava cuttings with a MnSO4 solution before planting; application of MnSO4 and elemental sulfur (S0) banded in the rows, to acidify the soil, increasing the Mn solubility; and leaf spraying of a Mn solution. The best results were revealed when the Mn was applied by foliar spraying and using a combination of methods (treatment of cassava cuttings with Mn, and Mn and S0 applied to the soil before planting). This treatments provided a fresh root yield of 19.5 Mg ha-1, contrasting with the control treatment (3.6 Mg ha-1).

Comparative cost and return analysis of cassava production by adopters and non-adopters of improved cassava varieties among farmers in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This research is a comparative cost and return analysis of cassava production by adopters and non-adopters of improved cassava varieties among farmers in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 100 respondents in a ratio of 50 adopters and 50 non- adopters. Data were collected through questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Gross margin was carried out to estimate cost and return. Results revealed that females (68 % and 64 %) were dominant for both groups of cassava farmers. Majority (88 %) of the farmers were educated, implying that they would be more amenable to adopt technologies. The cost and return analysis shows that, total variable cost per hectare was N56,455.00 and N36,850.00 with a gross margin of N77,550.00 and N36,560.00 for adopters and non- adopters respectively, indicating that, cassava farming is profitable. Determinants of cassava production for both groups of farmers were farm size, cassava cuttings, fertilizer use and extension contact. Whereas increased farm size, cassava cuttings and extension contact significantly and positively influenced output of both groups of farmers, fertilizer use had a negative but significant influence on output of adopters, implying that fertilizer use resulted in decrease output of the adopters. The adopters are advice to discontinue the use of fertilizer. Furthermore, lack of awareness and high cost of inputs were among the major constraints to full adoption of improved cassava varieties in the study area. Therefore, it is recommended that policies aimed at improving farmer’s education and awareness should be redesign for proper implementation.Keywords: Comparative, cost and return, profitability, cassava, improved varieties, production, adopters, nonadopters

Secondary metabolite contents in different parts of cassava plants infested by Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

The objective of this study was to identify and quantify the secondary metabolites in different parts of cassava plants infested and non-infested by Phenacoccus manihoti. Experiments were conducted in a greenhouse at Embrapa Soja, Londrina, Parana, Brazil, with a completely randomized design involving a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement [i.e., three cassava cultivars (‘Baianinha,’ ‘Santa Helena,’ and ‘IAC-12’), two canopy strata (apical and basal), and two levels of P. manihoti infestation (infested and non-infested)]. Cassava cuttings were vertically positioned in 5-L plastic pots. To generate cassava plants infested with P. manihoti, leaves containing five mass-reared first-instar nymphs were collected and placed on shoot apices. After 48 h, samples were collected for a subsequent extraction of metabolites. Extract aliquots were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography to detect and quantify compounds. Extracts from the apical and basal leaves of ‘Baianinha,’ ‘Santa Helena,’ and ‘IAC 12’ cassava cultivars contained caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, rutin, and trace amounts of gallic acid. Caffeic acid was mainly detected in the basal leaf extracts for all evaluated cultivars. Additionally, ferulic acid levels were relatively high in the ‘Baianinha’ and ‘Santa Helena’ basal leaves. Furthermore, rutin concentrations were higher in apical leaves than in basal leaves for all three cultivars, regardless of whether the plants were infested by P. manihoti. The presence of P. manihoti induced the production of rutin in the apical leaves of ‘Baianinha’ plants.

SIMULATION OF THE DYNAMICS OF CASSAVA STEM CUTTINGS ON AN INCLINED WOOD SURFACE

Development of precision machines to handle some of the field activities involved in the cultivation of cassava is a highly welcomed project among young enterprising farmers who are keen in resolving the posterity of their wellbeing as a big time farmer. Mechanization of cassava in the tropics is grossly hampered by lack of extensive knowlegde on the behaviour, physical properties of cassava stems and parameters that have great influence on the handling of the stems during cultivation, hence the limita-tion of advancing the present semi-automatic planter to fully automated one is still a mirage in the tropics. This paper presents the flow properties of cassava cuttings that can lend it to proper handling in a metering machine. A variable inclined wood surface rig with an ejection outlet was used to study the properties of the stem. Measured cassava stem predictive parameters; diamater, lentgh,weight; angle variation on the rig; response parameters; percentage ejected, percentage sliding through, forces acting on stems were obtained. The results from the study could be used to predict acurately the exact dynamics of a given stem isolated from the bulk of stem cuttings stacked in the metering hopper. Models to predict the flow properties of the stems were obtained; further simulation of the dynamics was embarked upon using MATLAB software. A major transition zone of stem characteris-tics per pecentage sliding to ejection occurred within the range of angles of 150 -300. This might be a favourable angular zone for isolating the stems from the bulk mass while the effectively isolated stems can be metered appropriately by another mechanism in the process of developing a metering device for cassava stem cuttings.

Phytoextraction potential of Manihot esculenta Crantz. (cassava) grown in mercury- and gold-containing biosolids and mine tailings

The potential of Manihot esculenta Crantz (cassava) to phytoextract Hg and Au from Hg- and Au-containing biosolids and mine tailings was successfully demonstrated for the first time. Removal of Hg by a hyperaccumulating plant species offers new options to clean up Hg-contaminated sites and at the same time harvest trace amounts of Au. Pre-rooted cassava cuttings with 5–7 nodes were grown in different combinations of biosolids-amended mine tailings to evaluate the best combination that will support optimum plant growth. The 75% biosolids – 25% mine tailings combination produced the best growth in cassava. Plant cuttings were also grown in hydroponics solutions amended with Hg and/or Au to determine root uptake of the two metals. Metals uptake was found to be greatest in the fibrous roots, accumulating up to 12.59gkg−1Hg and 18.99mgkg−1Au. Given its ease of cultivation and harvesting as well as the high accumulation of Hg and Au in its roots, cassava can be considered asa suitable candidate for Hg remediation and Au recovery from biosolids and mine tailings containing these metals.

Comparative Gender Efficiency in Cassava Production in Ogun State, Nigeria

Studies have shown that cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) production is dominated by both females and males, each contending for the pride of being an efficient cassava producer. This study compared the production efficiency of male and female cassava farmers in Odeda and Obafemi-Owode local government areas (LGAs) of Ogun State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents from the study area. Data were collected through the administration of a structured questionnaire on socioeconomic and production variables of cassava farmers. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stochastic production frontier analysis (SPFA). The mean age of the male and female farmers was 45 and 48 years, respectively. Most of the farmers, male (88.5%) and female (97.6%), were married with mean household sizes of eight and seven people for male and female farmers, respectively. The mean farm size cultivated and output of cassava by the male and female farmers was 0.96 ha and 1.04 ha and 16,240.74 kg/ha and 12,877.75 kg/ha, respectively. The mean production efficiency estimates for both male and female cassava farmers were 0.54 and 0.59, respectively. The factors affecting cassava production were land area (p < 0.01) and cassava cuttings (p < 0.01). The study also found female farmers (p < 0.01) contributed more to cassava production efficiency than their male counterparts. The study, therefore, concluded that female farmers have contributed more to production efficiency of cassava production. The study recommended, among others, that efforts to boost cassava production should give priority to female farmers to improve their production efficiency.

Effect of Storage Methods on Carbohydrate and Moisture of Cassava Planting Materials

Storage of cassava (Manihot esculenta Cruntz.) planting materials has been a challenge because of its properties of moisture and carbohydrates loss under storage. Two varieties of cassava cuttings 1 m long, stored for four months under four different storage methods in two locations Kabete and Kiboko. The storage methods were clamp under double shade (CUDS), horizontal under shade (HUS), vertical under shade (VUS) and the control horizontal under open ground (HOUG). In each storage method data loggers were installed to record temperature and RH. Percentage carbohydrate, moisture content (MC), 100% dry cuttings (DC) and cuttings dried to 25% or more of its stored length but not 100% were measured at intervals of 4 weeks. Data were subjected ANOVA and means separated using LSD. CUDS performed better than other storage methods in all parameters measured. The results showed cuttings stored under CUDS lost less moisture than those stored in HUOG. The moisture loss in CUDS was from 70.16%-56.69% while that of HUOG dropped from 70.16% to 27.26% within 8 weeks after storage. High rate of carbohydrate loss was observed in Kiboko than Kabete. Mean temperatures were 25 °C Kiboko and 22 °C Kabete. The results showed that temperature had effect on loss of carbohydrate. The results have proven that safe storage of cassava planting material is affected by plant related factors as well as environmental conditions.

Economics of cassava farmers’ adoption of improved varieties in Isoko north LGA, Delta state

The study investigated the economics of cassava farmers’ adoption of improved varieties in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State. Studies on the economic analysis of farmers adoption of improved cassava varieties in the study area is lacking. This therefore constitutes a research gap which must be investigated. The specific objectives were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents; determine the respondents’ level of awareness of improved cassava; assess the percentage of farmers who adopt the use improved cassava varieties; identify the constraints militating against the adoption of the improved cassava varieties in Isoko North local government area; and to determine the benefits level of cassava farmers. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to compose a sample size of 175 respondents. Various descriptive statistics such as means, frequency counts, standard deviation and percentages, and inferential statistics (t-tests and binary logit regression) were used for data analysis. The results of the study indicated that all the cassava farmers were aware of the existence of improved cassava varieties, however, only 90.29% of the respondents adopted. Respondents agreed that high cost of planting material (X= 4.80), ineffective Extension delivery (X= 4.78), Agronomic problems (X=4.70), shortage of planting materials (X= 4.53), Land degradation (X =4.12) and poor access to market by farmers (X = 3.89) were serious constraints to adoption. The t-test result showed that there were significant differences between adopters and non-adopters in all the economic variables tested. The result of the logit regression indicated that educational level, age, farm size and household size were significantly related to adoption by respondents. From the finding of the study, it was concluded that adoption of improved cassava varieties for planting is economically beneficial to cassava farmers in the study area and recommended, among others, that extension institutions in the area should intensify efforts to ensure that all farmers adopt improved cassava cuttings for planting. Key words: Cassava farmers, economic benefit, adoption, regression, improved varieties, constraint, statistics

Survey, Molecular Detection, and Characterization of Geminiviruses Associated with Cassava Mosaic Disease in Zambia.

A survey was conducted from April to May 2014 in 214 farmers' fields located across six major cassava-producing provinces (Western, Northwestern, Northern, Luapula, Lusaka, and Eastern) of Zambia to determine the status of cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and the species diversity of associated cassava mosaic geminiviruses (CMG). Mean CMD incidence varied across all six provinces but was greatest in Lusaka Province (81%) and least in Northern Province (44%). Mean CMD severity varied slightly between provinces, ranging from 2.78 in Eastern Province to 3.00 in Northwestern Province. Polymerase chain reaction discrimination of 226 survey samples, coupled with complete DNA-A genome sequence analysis, revealed the presence of African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV), East African cassava mosaic virus (EACMV), and East African cassava mosaic Malawi virus (EACMMV) as single or mixed infections of different proportions. Single-virus infections were predominant, occurring in 62.8% (ACMV), 5.8% (EACMMV), and 2.2% (EACMV) of samples relative to mixed-virus infections, which occurred in 19.5% (ACMV + EACMMV), 0.4% (ACMV + EACMV), and 0.9% (ACMV + EACMV + EACMMV) of samples. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the segregation of virus isolates from Zambia into clades specific to ACMV, EACMV, and EACMMV, further confirming the presence of all three viruses in Zambia. The results point to a greater diversity of CMG across major cassava-growing provinces of Zambia and implicate contaminated cassava cuttings in disease spread.

Farmer’s Perception of Cassava Mosaic Disease, Preferences and Constraints in Lupaula Province of Zambia

Cassava is the principal staple root crop, providing a major source of calories for rural and urban households in Luapula province of Zambia. However, the yields on smallholder farms are relatively low largely due to disease infections. The study was therefore conducted to establish farmers’ perceptions, knowledge and management of cassava mosaic disease (CMD), which is one of the major diseases of cassava, and to establish farmers’ preferred traits, constraints and assess sources of cassava cuttings for planting. Focus group discussions (FGD) and structured interviews involving 156 farmers in Mwense, Mansa and Samfya districts were conducted from December 2008 to March 2009. Knowledge of CMD was limited among the respondents. Only 2.4% of the respondents were aware of the disease despite high CMD incidence in farmers’ fields. The majority of the farmers were aware of the importance of insect pests; however, they could not differentiate between damages due to diseases or insect pests. High yield and early bulking traits were highly ranked. Most of the farmers planted local landraces on small-fields (<1 ha). It was evident that a local breeding programme aimed at developing locally adapted disease and pest resistant cassava cultivars was a pressing requirement.

Welfare impact of adoption of improved cassava varieties by rural households in South Western Nigeria

Abstract Low adoption of modern agricultural technologies amongst farmers in Nigeria has been identified as one of the main reasons for the low agricultural productivity and increase in poverty level. The general objective of this study is to examine the welfare impact of farm households adoption of improved cassava varieties in Southwestern (SW) Nigeria using poverty as an indicator. It utilizes cross-sectional farm household level data collected in 2013 from a randomly selected sample of 312 cassava producing households (186 in Ogun State and 126 in Osun State). The data obtained were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis such as Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) poverty measure and Logit regression model. The results revealed that adoption of improved cassava varieties increases the annual income and the annual consumption expenditure of producing households’ thus increasing welfare in the SW Nigeria. An analysis of the determinants of adoption with logistic regression model showed that access to improved cassava cuttings within the villages, use of radio, farming experience and farming as a major occupation are significant factors influencing adoption of improved cassava varieties in the study area. In order to achieve the much desired poverty reduction and generate an improvement in farming households’ welfare in SW Nigeria, efforts should be intensified in ensuring that farmers have access to adequate improved cassava cuttings at the right time and place. All programs, strategies and policies that would promote farmers’ education on the technology and consequently lead to improved adoption should be pursued.

Application of Sulfentrazone in Stages of Germination of IAC 90 Cassava Cuttings in Clay Soils and Sandy

Weeds interfere dramatically in the productive potential of cassava; however, information regarding herbicides that are selective to crops is still scarce. Thus, the aim in this study was to assess the initial growth of IAC 90 cassava plants after the application of sulfentrazone at different stages of germination of cassava in clayey and sandy soils. Three experiments were simultaneously deployed: the first experiment consisted in the application of sulfentrazone in the non-germinated stage of cassava cuttings; the second one in the stage of germinated cassavas cuttings (0.9 cm shoots); and the third one in applications in the stage of cassava cuttings with buds emerging (6.5 cm shoots and emerging from the soil). For each experiment the experimental design in randomized blocks was used in the 2 x 5 factorial arrangement with four replications. The factors were composed of two soils (sandy and clayey) and five doses of sulfentrazone (0, 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 g ha-1). It was found that depending on the herbicide dose, development stage of the buds of cassava cuttings and the type of soil, damage can occur in the initial development of the IAC 90 cassava plants. The greatest potential of sulfentrazone selectivity has occurred in applications in the non-germinated cassava cuttings stage and in doses lower than 500 g ha-1 in the clayey soil.

Analysis of Determinants of Cassava Production and Profitability in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria

The study examined the determinants and profitability of cassava production in Akpabuyo, Cross River State. A multistage sample procedure was used to select eighty (80) farmers and data were collected with structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, gross margin and ordinary least square (OLS) criterion. Analysis shows that cassava production was dominated by females (67.5 percent) in the study area. The mean age (47.85) shows that farmers were in the active labour force with mostly small farm sizes (0.98ha). The profitability analysis also shows per hectare gross margin of N9,520.66 and the cost N7,001.94, implying that cassava production is profitable. The results further reveals that farm size, value of land, gender, age, educational level and farming experience influenced output positively, while value of cassava cuttings, labour and family size had negative influence on cassava output. However, the test of significance shows that cassava cuttings, labour, education and experience exerted greater influence on cassava output, implying that a change in any one of these variables resulted to a significant change in output. One of the most serious problems encountered by cassava farmers in the study area was high cost of inputs, while lack of implements constituted the least problem. Therefore, it is recommended that concerted effort should be made towards the implementation of policies that will enhance farmers output.

English

Cassava production seems to be economically viable but there seems to exist no empirical documented evidence to this effect in Ika North East L.G.A of Delta State, Nigeria. In view of this, the study analyzed the economic and technical efficiency of cassava production in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State. A multistage random sampling was used to select a total of 120 respondents used for the study. Data used for the study was from primary source, which was collected using a well structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data based on the objective of the study. The result obtained showed that females (52.5%) are more than males. Majority (50%) of the respondents are married with an average household size of 6. The result further showed that the farmers were in their middle age (42 years) and had acquired reasonable years of farming experience of 10 years. More than half of the farmers had attended formal educational and earn average annual income of N180,000.00. The production systems practiced by the farmers was mono cropping. Cassava production was profitable in the area with a profit margin of N200,400.00 per a hectare. The Benefit Cost Ratio shows that in every N1.00k invested by farmers, N1.00k was realized as profit. The multiple regression result showed R2 value of 0.833 or 83.3%. The coefficients of farm size, labour and cassava stem were positively signed. Farm size, labour, fertilizer and cassava cuttings were underutilized because their efficiency index was greater than one. The cassava farmers identified some of the factors that constrained their farming activities to include: lack of access to credit, high cost of transportation, poor extension services, among others. Based on the findings, it is therefore recommended that farmers should organize themselves into cooperative societies so as to access credit; viable extension service should be provided bridge the extension need of the farmers and effective transportation system to ease evacuation of cassava produce to urban centre where the demands are high. Key words: Costs and returns, profitability, production system, constraints, input/output.