Cassava (Mannihot esculenta Cranz) Varieties and Harvesting Stages Influenced Yield and Yield Related Components

Abstract

Cassava (Mannihot esculenta) is the second most important staple food being the major source of food energy in sub-Saharan Africa that could play a major role in sustaining food security. In order to determine the appropriate growth stage for cassava harvesting, this study was conducted in Jimma Agricultural Research Center (JARC) during the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 cropping seasons. Accordingly, ten cassava genotypes praised for root yield were planted in Randomized Complete Block Design harvested at six stages. Different growth and yield parameters were collected and found Significant difference (p=0.000)1across stages in all cultivars. Based on combined analysis, the effects of harvesting stages on yield and yield related traits of cassava genotypes were found to be significant with the highest fresh root yield 23.06 t/ha after 18Months After Plant(MAP). Except number of branch/ plant, root fresh and dry weight kg/plot, the effects of harvesting stages and genotypes on yield related traits investigated in the research were generally non significant. In addition, correlation between root fresh weight and plant height, number of main stem/plant, number of branch/plant, average length of roots, weight of above ground plant biomass and root dry weight were positively significant. As a result, under the ecological condition of Jimma and its vicinity cassava should be harvested at 18MAP to get desirable yield and 15MAP for using as vegetative materials though it requires further study in quality aspect.

Keywords: Cassava; Mannihot esculenta; Harvesting stages; yield components.