Rroduction

of. Gassava

THE CASSAVA PRODUCTION

EXTENSION GUIDE NO. 17

CASSAVA PRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION:

Cassava (Manihot Spp.)" is a dicotyledonous plant

belonging to the family Euphobiacea. It is native to tropical America with the probable centre of origin in

North East Brazil or Central America. The Portuguese explorers of the 16th and 17th centuries introduced

cassava to other parts of the world. Cassava was

introduced at a number of points along· the West Africa

coast. Introductions were at Warri, Yenagoa, Calabar and Owerri.

Africa produces more cassava than any other area of

the world and almost 100% of the people in tropical Africa depend on this crop as their dietary staple.

Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the world. Yearly production of fresh cassava root in Nigeria is

estimated at 10 - 12 million tones on a land area of 1.2-

1-4 million hectares. The low average yield of 8-9 t/ha

on farmers field indicates that the crop is poorly managed as both demonstrated potential and

experimental yields are 400% respectively above

farmers yields. The low yields are due to the use of low

pg. 1

yield.ing planting materials, pests, diseases and poor

farming ; practices.

SITE SELECTION:

Cassava tolerates poor soils usually unsuitable for most

other crop. It produces some yield even when

abandoned after planting. For good yield of tubers,

cassava requires a well - drained and deep soil that is

not stony or gravelly.

LAND PREPARATION:

Good seed bed; preparation is necessary m cassava production. Clear the land, rake and do controlled burning of the trash (if the trash is too much to be

handled). Deep plough, harrow to fine tilt and make 1 metre ridges; or make tied mounds on a straight line.

Ridging or mounding is essential in soils, which are hard and/ or shallow or are poorly drained. Ridges

facilitate root penetration, tuber development and

facilitate farm operations like fertilizer application and

weeding.

pg. 2

RECOMMENDED V ARITIES

Use of poor yielding varieties has been a major factor

contributing to the low yields in farmers ' fields.

Varieties have been developed which are specific to

certain ecological zones. These varieties are particularly

outstanding in root yield, pest and disease tolerance

and food quality in their designated ecozones. The

following are currently recommended for the various

ecozones:

Table 1: recommended Cassava Varieties

Variety Ecological Zone lMS 30572, lMS 30555 lMS 50395, 1MS 91934 Rainforest to Derived 1MS 4 (2) 1425, lMS 30001 Savannah U/1421, NR 7706; U/41044

1MS 30572, NR7706 1MS 30211, 1MS 30017 Guinea to Sudan Savannah 1MS 30395, 1MS4 (2) 1425

PLANTING MATERIALS: The best stakes for planting are obtained from plants 8 - 15 months old with diameter of the pith equal to or less than 50% of the stem Cassava stems should be

stored in a shady place for 2-4 days before cutting them into 20-25cm lengths with 5-7 nodes of planting.

pg.3

.•

Middle portions establish better than tips or basal parts. Efforts should be made to use cuttings or average thickness, making sure that young succulent top i.e. green portions are avoide.d.

' · TIME OF PLANTING: The best time to plant cassava has been established for the various ecological zones. It is however known that in the tropical rainforest zone, that cassava can be grown all year around. The determining factor is the availability of water. Even in the drier savanna, cassava can be grown all year round using irrigation. Although cassava a is. drought resistant and can withstand 6 months of drought after establishment, planting should be done between March and July to ensure that cutting are well established before the on-set of dry season. On the rainforest zone the second cassava which is usuall~ inter-cropped with cowpeas is planted between July / September.

METHOD OF PLANTIONG: Cuttings should be lh-2/3 buried and planted at inclined angle of about 450. Where it becomes necessary to plant later than the recommended time and to

eliminate dipping stakes in insecticides against cassava mealy bug (CMB) and cassava green spider mite (GSM) bury the cuttings completely in the soil.

pg.4

SEED RATE AND PLANT POPULATION: A spacing of 100cm x 100cm is recommended and gives a suitable plant population (10,000/ha). This spacing is convenient and practicable both for mechanization and inter-cropping.

WEED CONTROL: Cassava can be seriously affected by early weed infestation. Slow initial growth and development make the plants very susceptible to weed interference during the first 3-4 months after planting. Uncontrolled weed growth in cassava-maize intercrop reduce the caloric yield by 16.2 x 106 calories/ ha (N30,000). Weeds must be controlled during the first 8-12 weeks from planting. Weeds can economically be controlled as follows: a Hoe Weeding: Remove weeds (pulling or hoeing at

30 and 60 days after planting) . b · Herbicide: In sole cassava, apply Flumeturon at

2,0kg ai/ha or Diuron at 3.0kg ai/ha as pre-emergence herbicides. The following pre-emergencve herbicides can equally be used in mixed cassava plots:- Cotoran (4-5 litres/ha); Gramuron (5 litres/ha); and Karmex 2.5kg/ ha ai).

c Egusi: Appropriate planting pattern involving high population of egusi or cowpea (each at 40,000/ha) provides good ground cover and control weeds apart from generating revenue in addition.

pg. 5

FERTILIZER AND FERTILIZER APPLICATION: Cassava has high nutrient requirements and very rapidly exhausts the soil. The following rates and types of fertilizers are recommended:-

Table 2: fertilizer recommendations Fertilizer NPK 15.15.16 20.10.10 25.10.10 Bags/ha 12 9 7

27.13.13 6/12

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Apply in bands on both sides of the ridge between cassava stands and in mounds in a circle around the base 3-Scm deep about l0-15cm away from the base of the cassava stand at 4 weeks after planting (for mixed crop) or after the second weeding at 8 weeks after planting (for sole cassava).

PESTS & DISEASES: 1 Insects: a Variegated Grasshoppers and Red Spider Mite:­

Spray the crop and the surrounding bush with 30ml (6tea spoonful) of Azodrin or Nuvacron in 9 litres (2 gallons) of water as soon as the first nymphs are

observed towards the end of September. Get surrounding farmers to do same for effective and total control.

pg.6

b Cassava Mealy Bug (CMB): Pre-plant treatment of cassava cuttings with 0.1% solution of Rogor (Dimethoate) or Perfekthion or Supracide or Ultracide, i.e. one tablespoonful of the chemical in 4.5 litres (1gallon) of water is recommended. The planting materials should be dipped in the Chemical for about one minute only. Dry the treated cutting for 5-30 minutes before planting. Also, dip cuttings for 5 minutes in a mixture of 20mls (2 table spoonful) Nuvacron 40 in 10 litres of water and allow to dry before planting. Carbofuran at 2.5kg/ ha ai applied with fertilizer controls CMB. Two Applications are recommended­one at 8 weeks after planting and the second towards the end of the rains help ensure CBM free crop.

Other control measures include:-Plant only clean and recommended varieties Early planting- (as soon as the rains s tart) Use of high dose of K fertilizer (90-150kg/ha) Farm hygiene Bury the stakes during planting (late planting).

c Green Spider Mite (GSM) Isolated cases can be treated by spraying with 0.1% (1 tablespoonful/ 4.5 litres of water Solution of Perfekthion 40 or Rogor 40). Where the cassava is young (less than 4 Months old at the onset of the dry season, treat with foliar spray of 0.1% (1 table

pg. 7

sponnful/ 4.5 litres of water) solution of the following chemicals:-Supracide of Ultracide; Rogor or Perfekthion (Dirnethoate) Diazionon or Basudin Azodrin or Nuvocron (Monocrotophos). Start spraying as soon as the symptoms are noticed. Repeat 4 times at 2 weeks intervals.

d White Ants and Termites: Dip cutting for 5 minutes in 211.! pints of Aldrin in

450 litres of water. Allow to dry before planting. Destroy ant hills and burn dead woods on the demolished hills. Spray the destroyed ant hills with Aldrin or Agrothion (Fenitrothion) 20 at the rate of 40ml/ 4.5 Litres of water and 9 litres/ ant hill.

e Vartebrate Pests: Rats, grass cuters and bush fowls dig up and eat tubers. These can be kept off by keeping the farm and surroundings weed-free. Trapping will also reduced rodent population. On small Plots and where practicable, fencing could be done.

2. DISEASI!S: Cassava is known to be attacked by more than 30

diseases, but three most important diseases in Nigeria are:

-Cassava Bacterial Blight (CBB) -Cassava Mosaic Diseases (CMD)

pg. 8

-Cassava Anthracnose Disease (CAD)

The Cassava Bacterial Blight (CBB). Symptoms are water soaked angular spots, wilting of branches, gum exudates on stems or green branches and die-back of aerial parts. The CBB is a rainy season disease. The Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) is characterized by chlorosis of discrete areas of the lamina, distortion and reduction of size of affected leaves.

The Cassava Anthracnose Disease (CAD) is a stem disease, which is characterized by sharp cracks on the stems of affected plants. These diseases, especially CBB and CMD cause considerable yield losses. The control measures for the three diseases include:-

Use of resistant varieties; Crop rotation and intercropping cassava with tall growing crops like maize which will reduce the spread of the disease; Uproot and burn plants infected at early growth state; and Farm hygiene

INTERCROPPING: Cassava may be intercropped with many other crops These crops/ combinations include:--Yam/maize/ cassava; yam/maize cassava/okro -Cassava/ maize/ egusi; maize/ cassava/ cowpea. In these inter-crop combinations, the usual populations of the major crops - yam and cassava are 10,000/ha and

pg. 9

ma.IZe is 20,000/ha; egusi is 20,000/ha and cowpeas 20,000/ha.

HARVESTING The crop is ready for harvest 12-15 months after

~.planting depending on the variety. Harvest when the soil is moist so as to minimize damage to the tubers. Cassava harvested soon after the dry season drought looses much starch. Best yields under rain fed culture are obtained from mature crops after 3 months from the end of dry season. Cut the stem 30cm above the ground level and lift tuber by pulling the stump gently. It is advisable to sell or process tubers immediately after harvest.

Table 3: Pests and Diseases Pests an d Diseases 1.Insects:

a.Variagated Grasshoppers and Red Spider Mites

b.Cassava Mealy Bug (CMB)

Recommended control Measures

. Spray with 30ml(6 teasponful) of Azodrin or Njuvacron in 9 litres (2 gallons) of water as soon as first nymphs are observed towards end of September . . Get surrounding farmers do the same for total control.

.Treat cuttings with 0.1% solution of Roger (Dimethoate) or Perfekthion or Supracide or Ulturacide; ie 1 tablespoonful of

pg. 10

c.Green Spider Mites (GSM)

che:rllical in 4.5 litres (1 gallon) of water before planting for about 1 minute. Dry treated cuttings for 5-30 minutes before planting . . Cuttings can also be treated with 20rnls (2 table spoonful) Nuvacron for 5 minutes in 10 litres of water before planting. Dip for 5 minutes ?~"ld allow to dry before planting . . Carbofur.:m at 2.5kg/ha ai applied with fertilizer at 8 weeks after planting and a second application toward~ the end of the rains also controls C\ ffi . . Use clean recommended varieties (totorant varieties) . Early pah1tint (a~ soon as the rains start); high dose of K fertilizer (90-150) kg/ha); farm hygene; bury the stake during planting (late planting) .

.Spray with 0.1% (1 table spoonful/ 4.5 litres of water) of Perfekthion or Rogor 40 . . For young cassava ( 4 months) treat with foliar s;pray of 0.1% (1 tablespoonful /4.5 litres of water) of Supracide or Ultracide; Rogor or Perfekthion; Diazionon or Basudin; Azodrin or Nuvacron.

pg. 11

d. White ants and . Dip cuttings for 5 rnkinutes in 2.5 Termites pints of Adrin Dust in 540 litres of

water. Allow to dry before planting

e. Vertebrate Pests

2. DISEASES:

a. Cassava Bacterial Blight (CBB)

b. Cassava Mosaic Disease(CMD)

c. Cassava Anthraemose diseases( CAD)

.Destroy out hills and bum dead woods on demolished anthills. Spray destroyed anthills with Aldrin qr Agrlotion 20 at 40m.s/ 4.5 litres of water at 9 litres/ ant hill.

.Keep farm and surroundings weed free . . Trapping reduces rodent population . . Fence small plots.

.Use resistant varieties

.Crop rotation

.Intercropping with tall growing crops like maize .Uproot and bum infected plants at early growth state .Farm hygiene

pg. 12

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NAERLS acknowledge the co- sponsoring of the re- publishing of this Guide by Niger State Agricultural Development Project