MODERN METHODS OF PLANTING CASSAVA TO YIELD MAXIMUM RESULTS

Look for a good site(Land)
Cassava is grown in all agro-ecological zones in Nigeria. It grows poorly in clayey and stony soils. Also, deeploamy soils with medium soil fertility
and good drainage give good cassava yields. Practice minimum tillage in sandy soil to conserve soil, organic matter, moisture,and reduce soil erosion.

Prepare land to improve soil contact with stem cuttings.In shallow or hard soils, increase topsoil volume per plant for better establishment.Make ridges or mounds to reduce waterlogging in poorly drained soils.


Choose desirable varieties;The best cassava varieties grow fast,give good yields,tolerate major diseases and pests,mature early,give high root yields (fresh and dry),meet end-users quality characteristics and store well in ground for more than 18 months

For high yielding and healthy planting materials contact:
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
National Seed Service (NSS)
State offices of AgriculturalDevelopment Programs (ADP)
The Cassava Growers Association(CSA)

Select healthy cassava stems; Select planting materials from healthy cassava plants. These are plants (8–15 months old), which have minimal stem and leaf damage by pests and diseases. Avoid cassava stems with diseases and pests totally


 Prepare and handle the cuttings properly
Handle hardwood stems properly to prevent bruises and damage to the nodes and to improve
sprouting. Use hardwood cuttings for planting because they sprout better.

PLANTING PERIODS
Planting date recommendations should fit within local farming calendars
In zones with two rainy seasons, plant at the beginning of the major growing season
(April – May) or minor growing season (August).  in the savannah zones, plant at the beginning of the growing season (May – June).

PLANTING METHODS
Plant vertically in sandy soils with 2/3 of length of cutting below the soil to produce deeper lying storage roots for anchorage.

Bury the stem cutting completely to increase stem production. Storage roots are many but they are comparatively smaller in size.

Plant at an angle in loamy soils to produce more compactly arranged roots.
Improper planting methods could make plants lodge, produce small roots, and diffi cult to harvest


PLANTING SPACINGS
Distances between cassava plants mainly depend on the variety and on the cropping system (sole crop or as intercrop).
For sole crops plant at 1 m x 1 m for the branching types. For the non-branching
types planr at 1 m x 0.8 m.
For intercropping, plant at a wider spacing, 1 m x 1.5 m for the branching types, and
1 m x 1 m for the non-branching types.

Too wide spacing between cassava plants leads to increased weed competition and poor yields per unit area.


WEEDS CONTROL
Control weeds early;Weed competition reduces canopy development and root bulking.Early weeding prevents weeds from competing with the crop for nutrients, water, light and space.Combine different cultural practices to control weeds. check the followings for weed control methods;

Manual weed control (hand weeding).
Use cover crops (Melon) to suppress weeds.
Use inter-row weeders
Use chemicals to control weeds.


Common chemicals for weeding
Alachlor
Atrazine + metolachor
Atrazine + Alachlor
Floumeturon
Paraquat
Glyphosate. etc

Application rates are often prescribed by the manufacturers of these chemicals.


LAND FERTILIZATION
Add manure such as cow dung or poultry droppings at land preparation
In areas where ploughing is done. plough-in leguminous cover crops such as Mucuna to improve the soil physical andchemical properties.
Apply NPK 15:15: 15 at 4-8 bags/ha depending on fertility of the soil. Other fertilizer types, particularly those containing micronutrients, are also recommended (See your extension agent).

 Intercrop cassava with other crops
Sole cassava cropping may result in inefficient use of land space.
Cassava/Maize and cassava/legume intercrops have been found to give better land utilization,reduce soil erosion and risk of crop loss.




DISEASES CONTROL
Diseases reduce growth and yield of cassava. Control them!
African Cassava Mosaic Virus ( ACMV), Cassava Bacterial Blight (CBB) Cassava Anthracnose Disease (CAD) and Root Rot are some of the major diseases attacking cassava.

Select cuttings from cassava varieties that are resistant to the common diseases in your area.Rogue out diseased plants and burn to reduce spread of diseases.
Avoid plants that suffer from a complex of diseases and pests


PEST cONTROL
Mealy bug, green mite, termites and variegated grasshoppers are the major insect pests of cassava.
The best way to control pests is to grow resistant varieties.



HARVESTING TIME
Harvest your cassava at appropriate time;Delayed harvesting may cause roots to become fi brous or rot.Harvest as soon as the tubers are mature. Optimum time for harvesting varies according to the variety, climate and soil factors.

Harvest early maturing varieties between 9 –12 months after planting. Harvest full season varieties between 12 – 18 months after planting.

In cold environments like(Jos Plateau), harvesting can be delayed until 18–24 months after planting


CASSAVA STEMS STORAGE
Store cassava stems properly;Ensure that only mature healthy cassava stems are stored.
For long storage (1-3 months) tie stems into bundles and store upright under a shaded
tree. Moisten the soil regularly

For short storage (2–4 weeks) under open market condition, put stems on a horizontal support under shade.

N.B. During the dry season, store stems upright in pits under a tree




credit: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SUPPORT FOR AGRICULTURAL GROWTH IN NIGERIA

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