ACAI Annual Review Meeting - Student Poster Session

Cassava (Manihot esculentus Crantz) is the third most important food crop after maize and rice in Tanzania. It is apparent that the timely availability of quality cassava propagules is hindered by several factors including a shortage in supply with ultimate effects to increased demand, deprived quality propagules, high cost associated with their availability and unsuitable field production practices (good land preparation, proper planting density, soil fertility, and husbandry management). To improve massive multiplication of quality propagules, the current production was evaluated together with improved techniques aimed at increasing productivity and quality. The experiment laid out under a Split-split plot in an RCBD with three replications. The main plot composed of three improved varieties namely Kiroba, Chereko, and Mkuranga-1; Sub-plot was planting densities (1 x 1) m, (1 x 0.75) m; and (1x 0.5) m while the Sub-sub-plot comprised of ten fertilizer levels denoted as F0, F1, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8, and F9. TSP and applied as basal while Urea, SA and MoP fertilizers respectively as a top dressing. Data collected included Young Fully Expanded Leaf, total and plant-able stem height, stem length (primary, secondary and tertiary), girth, nodes numbers, internode length, number of propagules per plant, sprout shoot length and biomass weight per hectare. The data were subjected to ANOVA at p=0.05 using statistical software Genstat-C and the range was done using Duncan’s Multiple range test. Statistically, the results indicated no significant difference between the fertilizer type and levels on the number of propagules between varieties under fertilizer treatments at p= 0.47. but highly significance on stem shoot sprout fresh and oven-dried-biomass between varieties at p= 0.017 and both variety and replications stratum at p=0.049. These results suggest recommending continuing using a fertilizer with prosperity to successive crop vigour.

Yassin Mashuubu

Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania;

Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute, Ilonga Centre. Internatioal Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Two field experiments were conducted during the growing season of 2018/2019 at Zanzibar Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) Unguja and Pemba. The objective of the experiment was to explore the potentiality of optimizing land productivity through intercropping cassava with sweet potato. The experiment was a split-split plot laid out in RCBD with four replications. The main plot was the intercropping time of sweet potato. Fertilizer application was a subplot and sweet potato intercrop plant density of 10 000, 20 000 and 30 000 plants ha-1 was a sub-sub plot. There were 48 intercropped and 32 sole-cropped plots. The results revealed significant differences between treatments in crop yields, vine vigour, plant height, foliage cover, canopy length, thickness and number of marketable roots/tubers. Matangatuani gave the highest yield of cassava (17.63tha-1) compared with Kizimbani (13.15tha-1). However, for sweet potato, Kizimbani recorded14.67tha-1 and Matangatuani 13.75tha-1.

Ally Hamid Ally

Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro,

IITA-Nairobi, IITA-Dar, Zanzibar Agricultural Research Institute

Cassava-maize intercropping is a traditional and common practice among smallholder farmers in Southern Nigeria. The system provides food security and early access to income from the maize component. On farmers’ fields, however, yields from both crops in the system are poor compared to their reported yield potentials. Between 2017 and 2018 we established on-farm non-replicated multilocational trials to study the effects of increasing cassava (10,000 vs. 12,500) and maize (20,000 vs. 40,000) planting densities ha-1 and fertilizer rates ((0 N:0 P:0 K (F0), 90 N:20 P:37 K (FM), and 75 N:P 20:K 90 (FC) kg ha-1) on (i) the fresh cassava storage root and maize cob yields, and (ii) the profitability of investment in mineral fertilizers for the nutrients N, P, and K in the intercropping system. By increasing the planting densities of both crops we observed improved yields from both crops. Fertilizer application further increased yields regardless of planting density. The profitability of investment in fertilizers depended on several factors especially on the prevailing prices of produce, the maize density used, and the control yield without fertilizer which served as a proxy for the initial soil nutrient status.

Charles Nwokoro

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Switzerland;

National Root Crops Research Institute, Nigeria; International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria; International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Kenya; University Collage Dublin, Ireland; Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria

#AKILIMO #ACAI #Cassava-maize_Intercrop

To bridge the yield gap in cassava more and more smallholders farmer are adopting modern agricultural practices in Nigeria but this in turn might hamper the symbiotic relationship between the crop and Arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF). Therefore, this study determined the responses of AMF to different agricultural practices. Collection of cassava fine root was done across 232 fields across main cassava belts of the southeastern, southwestern and central zones in Nigeria. During sampling the prevalent agricultural practices in this regions were also documented. Using DNA metabarcoding, results were obtained. The study shows that spatial variability across locations played a major role while the use of hoe and reduction in fallow periods positively increased AMF in terms of abundance. Although, the dissimilarity for land preparation was not as significant as for other practices, still, flat plots had the least AMF richness

Thanni Bolaji

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

FUNNAB and IITA

Cassava is the second largest supplier of starch in the world after maize. The quality of cassava is defined by its starch content of fresh roots. A high starch content equates to optimal quality with premium payments to farmers. Starch content and dry matter cassava root measurements were assembled from 49 published experiments. The data showed a linear relationship between starch content and the percentage of dry matter in fresh cassava roots. A decline in the water supply during the month prior to harvest increases dry matter content in fresh cassava roots, but this pattern varies with cultivars and other growing conditions. The relationship between starch and dry matter content in cassava roots developed based on the literature survey together with dry matter content as a function of genetic variation and water supply before harvesting, can be added as a new module to existing cassava models to simulate cassava quality.

Patricia Moreno-Cadena

Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, University of Florida,

Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), GIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS),

#cassava #cropmodeling

The compositional nutrient diagnosis provides norms and plant nutrient indices, for adjusting nutrients in the soil-plant systems aiming at high and sustainable crops production. This study determined the CND norms of cassava and identified optimum cassava root yield for a high-yielding subpopulation. It also ranked nutrients from the most limiting for cassava production. In order to compute the CND norms leaf samples (at 3 - 4 months after planting) and its respective yield were collected in the on-farm trials established during the 2017 and 2018 season in Southern and Lake zone, Tanzania. Thereafter, these leaf samples were analyzed for nutrient contents; N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Zn, Mn, Cu and B. The CND generic model gave 41.67 Mg ha–1 as a yield cutoff between high- and low-yield subpopulations. Calcium and Boron were identified as the core yield-limiting nutrients for cassava in Lake and Southern zone soils respectively. Pre-recorded Video URL

Habai Masunga

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) Mwanza, Tanzania; International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Kenya; Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), Dodoma, Tanzania. International Institute for tropical Agriculture (IITA), Tanzania.

Cassava is a valuable raw material for some agro-allied industries but the seasonal variation in weather condition limits the production. The experiment was conducted at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun state and Psaltry International Limited (PSALTRY), Oyo State, Nigeria. Improved cassava varieties were planted in 2017 cropping season at three periods; onset of rain (April), mid rainy season (June) and late planting (August). Each planting was harvested at 9, 11 and 13 months after planting (MAP). Starch derived at 13 MAP from cassava planted in June (20.86 and 21.47%) and August (24.60 and 26.64%) was significantly higher than 9 and 11 MAP at FUNAAB and PSALTRY respectively. Under April planting, there was a significant reduction in starch content at 13 MAP after an initial increase from 9 to 11 MAP. Fertilizer application increased starch content by 19.91% than the unfertilized plots. TME 419 produced higher starch content than TMS 30572. Informed decision making is necessary to achieve optimum root starch content.

OLOGUNDE OLANREWAJU

Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Cassava is a perennial crop that provides adequate flexibility to schedule planting and harvest, providing options to develop systems continuously supplying roots year-round. This is a possibility for farmers to increase income and also ensure that processors do not suffer downtimes. Trials were conducted on farmers’ fields to investigate the effects of planting and harvesting periods commonly not used by farmers for two contrasting varieties. Plantings were in early=April/May, Mid=June/July and late=September/October; time of harvest was 9, 11 and 13 months; varieties were TME419 and TMS581. Late plantings had an advantage over mid and early plantings in some locations. Delaying harvest to 13 months after planting increased yields across all planting dates. Higher root dry matter yields were mostly observed for TME419.

Rebecca Enesi

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland;

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Soil conservation practices are inevitable for improved agricultural production, food security, and farmers’ well-being. This study investigated cassava farmers’ perception of soil degradation and conservation practices used in cassava production in South-west, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 361 cassava farmers in Oyo and Ogun States. The structured interview guide was used to obtain data on the perceived effects of soil degradation and conservation practices by cassava farmers. A field experiment was carried out to determine the rate of soil loss under different tillage practices. Perceived effects of soil degradation on cassava production by farmers were stunted growth (x ̅ = 4.73) and reduced cassava yield significantly ((x ) ̅= 4.59). Soil conservation practices often used by cassava farmers were crop rotation (98.6%), bush fallowing (80.3%), and intercropping (62.8%). The rate of soil loss on plots with zero ploughs was lower than the single plough. More so, ridging reduced soil loss than planting on flat surfaces under both tillage practices. There is a need for adequate awareness and training on the proper use of soil conservation practices for sustainable soil management and increased cassava yield.

Akinsumbo Sunday

Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture