Yield improvement of CASSAVA in Malawi - Mejoran el rendimiento de la MANDIOCA (YUCA) en Malawi

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In Malawi (Africa), increasing human population and low productivity of cassava (Manihot esculenta), the second most important food crop after maize, necessitate the intensification of agronomic options for cassava production. Leo Mathias and Vernon H. Kabambe, with Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, conducted a study to evaluate the effects of inorganic fertilizer and cattle manure on cassava growth and yield in Central Malawi. 

The sweet variety Mbundumali with 9-15 months maturity and potential yield of 25 t/ha was used. From the results, tuber fresh yield was significantly increased by application of both cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer, while there was no significant manure x inorganic fertilizer interaction. 

Tuber fresh yield was maximum at 27.6 t/ha with application of cattle manure at 5 t ha-1, however increasing the rate of cattle manure to 10 tha-1 did not increase the tuber yield further. Fresh tuber yield increased from 22.8 to 29.2 t ha-1 with inorganic fertilizer application. Yield without fertility amendments was 21 t ha-1, suggesting that appropriate amendments may raise yields above potential. There were also significant effects of inorganic fertilizer on branches per plant, tubers per plant and tuber length, while manure had no effect on these variables.

Full report: http://www.academicjournals.org/journal/AJPS/article-abstract/55B5C1C53409

Source: http://www.academicjournals.org/journal/AJPS