A re- examination of the effects of length of stem cuttings on the growth and yield of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz).

Abstract

Paucity of cassava propagules and transportation costs during the peak planting season is a major constraint to its production in Nigeria. Field experiments were carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma during the 2009 and 2010 planting seasons to re-examine the length of cutting materials used for planting cassava in view of the increase in demand for planting materials. Two experiments were carried out in polyethylene bags and in the field. In the polybag trial, five cutting lengths (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30cm) of variety 92/0326 were planted on 5 September 2009 in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The Field experiment was planted on 27 April 2010 using the same length of cuttings and experimental design. The results showed that in the polyethylene bag experiment, sprouting and early vegetative growth were not significantly different between 20, 25 and 30cm cuttings. In the field, vegetative traits were significantly (P<0.5) reduced when stem cuttings of 10cm were used. There was no difference in vegetative growth between stem cuttings of 15, 20 and 25cm. Number and weight of tubers per plant and tuber yield were highest in plots planted with 30cm cuttings but were not significantly different from 20 and 25cm cuttings. The result clearly showed that the length of cuttings can be reduced from 25cm already in use to 20 or even 15cm, especially when planting materials are scarce.