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VOL. 5, ISSUE 4 (2023)
Effect of cutting planting orientation on early plant establishment and yield of cassava
Authors
Mushekwa Sakumona, Banda Jonathan, Chalwe Able
Abstract
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is the second main staple food crop grown in Zambia after maize. Despite the ability of cassava to tolerate a wide range of climatic conditions and to grow under marginal soil fertility, its production is affected by inappropriate cultural practices. Vertical, slanting (inclined) and horizontal cutting planting orientations were evaluated in a field trial using a randomized complete block design in four replications on plant establishment and storage root yield on Mweru, a high yielding cassava variety popularly grown by the farmers in Mansa District. Significantly (P<0.05) the tallest plants with longer leaves and bigger stems were recorded in vertical orientation while plants derived from horizontal cutting orientation had short and small stems with short leaves. Horizontal orientation produced significantly (P<0.05) the highest number of storage roots (12 roots) per plant, while the plants derived from the slanting orientation yielded the smallest number (8 roots), yet the mass of individual storage roots was highest in plants from the vertical orientation (321.12 g) and lowest in horizontal orientation (253.2 g). Significantly (P<0.05) the highest cassava fresh storage root yield of 31.45 t ha-1 was recorded in plants from vertical orientation while plants from horizontal orientation recorded significantly (P<0.05) the lowest yield. Horizontal orientation of cuttings at planting appears to be most suitable for farmers who grow cassava for the fresh root market, while vertical orientation could be suitable for farmers targeting the market for dry chips, four or industrial use.
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Pages:22-26
How to cite this article:
Mushekwa Sakumona, Banda Jonathan, Chalwe Able "Effect of cutting planting orientation on early plant establishment and yield of cassava". International Journal of Agriculture and Plant Science, Vol 5, Issue 4, 2023, Pages 22-26
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