THE INFLUENCE OF LEVELS AND MODES OF NPK FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF SOME IMPROVED CASSAVA VARIETIES IN NSUKKA, SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

A study was carried out at the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture Experimental Farm, University of Nigeria, Nsukka to: (i) evaluate the growth and yield of four improved cassava varieties, (ii) determine optimum NPK fertilizer rate for increased productivity and (iii) determine the best mode of fertilizer application for increased productivity. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Four varieties of cassava; TMS 01-1368 (yellow root), TME 419, TMS 98 05 05 and TMS 05 10, four levels of NPK fertilizer 0, 200, 400 and 600 and three modes of fertilizer application; single at 4 weeks after planting (WAP), split at 4 and 8 WAP and split-split at 4, 8 and 12 WAP were used for the study. Data were collected on the following agronomic and yield parameters: survival count, number of branches, number of leaves, plant height, stem girth, canopy diameter, tubers and garri yields (tonnes/ha). The variety TME 419 under the early establishment gave significantly (p<0 -="" .05="" 0.05="" 01="" 05.="" 05="" 10.12="" 10.the="" 12="" 1368="" 200="" 24.69="" 39.4="" 39.8="" 400="" 419="" 5.15="" 600="" 67="" 6="" 9.68="" 90.8="" 91="" 98="" adopted="" after="" although="" and="" application="" at="" be="" because="" boost="" both="" cassava="" compared="" control="" cost.="" cost="" could="" count="" crop="" early="" economical="" farmers="" fertilizer="" for="" fourth="" garri="" gave="" growth.="" growth="" ha="" had="" higher="" highest="" however="" in="" is="" it="" kg="" labour="" leaves.="" leaves="" lower="" lowest="" measures="" minimizes="" month.="" month="" months="" more="" npk="" nsukka="" number="" of="" order="" p="" percentage="" planting.="" planting="" production.="" production="" rate="" reduction="" respectively="" results="" root="" season="" second="" should="" showed="" significantly="" similar="" since="" single="" span="" split="" statistically="" survival="" t="" that="" the="" tme="" tms="" to="" total="" tuber="" variety="" was="" when="" while="" with="" yellow="" yield="" yields="">

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

LITERATURE REVIEW

Botany of Cassava

Production area of cassava

Importance of Cassava

Cassava genotypes/collections and morphological descriptors

Genotypic Selection for Higher Crop Productivity

Diseases of Cassava

Nutritional Needs of the Soil

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental site

Materials

Seasons of Cassava planting

Land preparation

Experimental Design

Planting

Fertilizer Application

Data collection

Methods of data collection

Agromet Data

Statistical Analysis

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) is a perennial shrub of the family Euphorbiaceae. It is a root crop that is propagated vegetatively from stem cuttings for commercial purposes but can also be propagated through seed. Cassava has been a crop of South America where the indigenous tribes learnt to extract the poisonous juice from the root for the preparation of meal (Leon, 1997). After the conquest of the Americans, the plant was taken to Africa and Asia where it became an important crop for human as well as animal consumption (Ross, 1975). The leaves and tender shoots are important source of vitamins, minerals and proteins (Balagopalan, 2002; Nweke et al., 2002). It was introduced into the southern part of Nigeria during the period of slave trade proliferated by Portuguese explorers and colonizers in the sixteenth century. Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cassava. The Presidential Cassava Transformation Initiative in Nigeria in 2003 sought to position cassava as a commodity crop and foreign exchange earner, beyond its traditional role as a food crop. Due to its adaptability to marginal soils and erratic rainfall, high productivity per unit of land and labour and possibility of supply throughout the year has been obtained (Nweke et al., 2002). The adaptation to different edapho-climatic conditions (Adeniji et al., 2011) makes cassava a favorite dry season crop grown in inland valleys in west and central Africa (Lahai and Ekanayake, 2009) and it is highly susceptible to excessive water (Ande, 2011). It displays an exceptional ability to adapt to climate change (Albuquerque, 1978). Cassava can grow and yield reasonably well on soil of low fertility where production of most other crops would be uneconomical (Carter et al, 1992). Under favorable soil and climatic conditions, fresh tuber yields of 40-60 t/ha can be obtained (IITA, 2005) It has high resistance to drought, pest and diseases conditions. Also it is suitable to store its roots for long periods underground even after they have matured. Cassava is one of the efficient producers of carbohydrates among the higher plants (Rogers and Appan, 1971). Due to tolerance of cassava to water stress, cassava is used as a famine crop in North Africa where it is the main food source during prolonged periods of drought (Purseeglove, 1954). The root of cassava is made into flours. It has other products as dry extraction of starch, glue or adhesives and modified starch, in pharmaceutical as dextrines, as processing inputs, as industrial starch for drilling and processing food (Arene, 1978). It is extensively used as filler in the manufacture of paints (Godfrey et al., 2012). Interest has recently been developed in its large scale exploitation as an animal feed or as a raw material for the production of starch or power alcohol. On a worldwide basis, it is ranked as the sixth most important source of calories in the human diet (FAO, 1999). Cassava is the world’s sixth most important crop (Lebot, 2009)

and constitutes a staple food for over 700 million people (Njoku et al., 2010)

Depending on the varietal and ecological factors of cassava, some of the varieties are early maturing while others have longer periods to mature. The long duration of 8-24 months of cassava in the soil requires steady supply of nutrient for optimum growth and yield of the crop. However, it has been suggested that commercial cassava be established in marginal soils (Evenson and Keating, 1978). Use of fertilizers and other organic manures are limited in cassava farms as farmers always grow the crop on fallow lands (Acosta and Perez, 1954). Fallow land is expected to supply the nutrient needs of cassava. It has been reported that cassava extracts large amounts of nutrients from the soil especially K and N and continuous cultivation without adequate fertilization would lead to soil depletion and reduced yield (Kurmarohita, 1978). Cassava removes about 55 kg/ha N, 132 kg/ha P and 112 kg/ha K (Howeler, 1991)

Based on the foregoing, it is important to determine NPK fertilizer requirement and best mode of application for increased cassava productivity in improved cassava varieties. Hence, the objectives of the study were to:

1.       evaluate growth and yield of four improved cassava varieties

2.       determine optimum NPK fertilizer rate for increased productivity, and

3.       determine the best mode of fertilizer application for increased productivity......

For more Crop Science Projects Click here

================================================================

Item Type: Project Material  |  Size: 52 pages  |  Chapters: 1-5

Format: MS Word  |  Delivery: Within 30Mins.

================================================================

DOWNLOAD THIS PROJECT MATERIAL NOW! CLICK HERE!

Share: