Mean attribute performance of cassava varieties in 2-node

THE RESPONSE OF TEN NEWLY RELEASED CASSAVA VARIETIES FOR DIRECT
PLANTING USING 2 & 4 NODE STAKES FOR CASSAVA STEM MULTIPLICATION.
Njoku, S. C., Egesi, C. N., Eke-Okoro, O.N., Ikeogu, U. N., and Ebeniro, C. N.
ABSTRACT
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), an important source of energy in the diets of most tropical
countries is rapidly evolving from a subsistence to a commercial and industrial crop. The crop
has low multiplication ratio which poses a challenge in the efficient distribution of improved
varieties to farmers and other users due to insufficient planting materials. Two year experiment
was carried out to evaluate the effect of direct planting of two and four node per cassava
planting stake on stem yield and other agronomic attributes. The study was carried out in
2008/2009 and 2009/2010 cropping seasons at the National Root Crops Research Institute
(NRCRI) research farm, Umudike. Planting materials consisted of ten newly improved cassava
varieties (TMS98/0505, TMS98/0510, TMS98/0581, TMS97/2205, TMS92/0057, TMS92/0326,
TME419, NR87184, TMS98/0002 and TMS96/1632) collected from the germplasm of NRCRI,
Umudike and two farmers preferred varieties (NR8082 and TMS30572) were used as checks.
Two and four node per stake of each variety were planted in 1m x 0.25m planting distance in a
plot size of 5x4 meters in a randomized complete block trial replicated three times. Analysis of
variance showed that the number of nodes/stake had significant effect (P<0.001) on all traits
except number of root rots and stalk weight. There was also high significant variation due to
variety and seasonal effects. Four node/stake planting materials had better mean performance
over two nodes for all the attributes measured except root rot. In addition, cassava attributes
measured were better in 2010 than 2009 cropping seasons. Most of the newly released varieties
had better performance than the check varieties. Direct planting of two and four node cassava
stakes therefore has a great potential for rapid cassava stem multiplication. Use of 4 node
cuttings however combined rapid stem multiplication with high root yield among the varieties.
Table 1: Mean attribute performance of cassava varieties in 2-node and 4-node stakes
Number of nodes
2N
MEAN
4N
Keywords: Cassava, multiplication ratio, improved varieties, planting materials, germplasm,
nodes and stakes.
INTRODUCTION:
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) also known as ‘tapioca’ or ‘manioc’ is one of the major
crops grown in Nigeria. About 90% produced is used for food, animal feed, industrial,
Pharmaceutical and unquantifiable quantities for export (Eke-Okoro 2008). Diseases and pests in
cassava can bring about yield losses that can be as high as 90% in highly susceptible varieties
most especially cassava mosaic disease (CMD) (Gibson et al., 1996; Otim-Nape et al., 1997).
Control measures include host plant resistance and cultural measures. One of such cultural
control strategies is the use of virus free stem cuttings as planting materials ( Ogbe et al 2007)
Another major constraint to increase cassava production is the problem of insufficient planting
materials. Cassava has a slow rate of propagation, only 10—30 times per year (Cock et al.,
1976). About 50% of Nigerian population wants to grow cassava for export purpose but can’t
achieve this with the few planting materials available for newly released varieties. Present
emphasis on cassava production for diversified uses, cassava transformation agenda of Nigerian
government and high export values has provoked great demand for planting materials of the
improved cassava varieties in Nigeria. For now, existing package seems not to have provided
adequate solution to the problem of planting materials always encountered by farmers. There is
therefore need for development of packages that will ensure rapid multiplication of planting
material on the farmer’s field through direct planting of cassava stakes with 2 and 4 nodes in the
field for stem production.
Variety
NR8082
NR87184
TME419
TMS30572
TMS92/0057
TMS92/0326
TMS96/1632
TMS97/2205
TMS98/0002
TMS98/0505
TMS98/0510
TMS98/0581
NR8082
NR87184
TME419
TMS30572
TMS92/0057
TMS92/0326
TMS96/1632
TMS97/2205
TMS98/0002
TMS98/0505
TMS98/0510
TMS98/0581
MEAN
MEAN
LSD0.05 (nodes)
Establishment
47
71
52
53.68
61
29.68
79.68
75.34
70.34
92
37.68
72.34
61.8
79
96.34
82
68
73
69
80.66
86.34
88
67
72.34
72
Number of
bundles
1.96
3.08
2.25
1.96
2.54
1.96
2.17
1.38
1.79
3.17
1.54
2.54
2.2
3.88
5.42
4.88
3.29
4.42
4.58
4.25
2.92
4.58
5.08
4.17
4.88
Number of
roots
52
80.85
48.8
61.65
78.5
46.65
100.3
93
75.35
80.85
52.65
80.35
70.91
86.15
158.65
87.35
75.35
107.3
110.8
174.8
124.65
90.65
85.2
77.8
115.85
Fresh root
yield (t/ha)
35.95
52.44
20.54
29.14
45.83
26.6
45.17
34.57
40.14
43.47
36.42
50.7
38.41
53.34
56.8
47.79
43.05
43.94
36.67
71.17
46.38
44.03
64.74
47.3
65.23
78.8
5.22
107.88
51.7
70.31
6.62
3.71
0.27
89.4
8.74
45.06
3.36
MATERIALS AND METHOD
The study was carried out in two cropping seasons (2008/2009 and 2009/2010) at Research
Farm of National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike (Latitude 050 29’N, Longitude
070 33’) in South-eastern Nigeria. The soil at the experimental site was classified as Typical
Palenduct derived from coastal plain (Chukwu and Ifenkwe 1996). The top soil (0-20) texture of
the soil is sandy loam. There are two distinct seasons, the rainy season starts in April and ends in
October while the dry season last from November to March. The rainy season has a bimodal
distribution with peaks in July and September, typical of South-western and south-eastern zones
of Nigeria.
Ten newly improved cassava varieties (TMS98/0505, TMS98/0510, TMS98/0581, TMS97/2205,
TMS92/0057, TMS92/0326, TME419, NR87184, TMS98/0002 and TMS96/1632) and two check
varieties (NR8082 and TMS30572) were used in this study. Each variety was planted directly in
the field using 2 and 4 node stakes in a plot size of 5x4m in a randomized complete block design
trial replicated three times. All the necessary agronomic data were collected and subjected to
analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Genstat Discovery edition.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The ANOVA showed each of variety, number of nodes and year as well as variety x year
interaction had significantly effect (P<0.05) on all the attributes studied. The 4-node stake direct
planting had a higher mean performance than 2-node stakes for all the parameters (Table 1).
Average establishment percentage from the study stood at 70.31%, (78.8% in 4-node and 61.8%
in 2-node stakes). Lozano et al. (1977) reported that use of 1-3 nodes has the disadvantage of
poor sprouting rate due to rapid dehydration. However, the 2-node and 4-node stakes had high
sprouting rates in this study. The 4-node stakes had higher sprouting than 2-node stakes under
the humid forest of Umudike. This is in agreement with earlier reports (Dahniya and Kallon,
1984). 4-node stakes gave an average standard stem bundle yield (50 stems of 1m length) of
5.22 bundles/plot? while 2-node stakes gave 2.2 bundles/plot? Also, root yield (t/ha) and
number of roots increased with number of nodes of cassava stakes. The increase in the number
of nodes would have resulted to increased adventitious/nodal roots which in turn resulted in
higher establishment or survival rate and higher root yield as recorded in this study.
Differences in year performance showed that 2009 had higher mean performance for
establishment percentage, number of bundles and root yield (t/ha) while the number of roots
per plot was higher in 2008 than in 2009 cropping seasons. This could be due to differences in
weather conditions between the two years.
Varieties’ responses to 2-node and 4-node stakes were significantly (P<0.05) different. Cassava
varieties used had better performance with 4-node than 2-node stakes for all the attributes.
Mean variety performance however, showed that variety NR87184 could be selected for good
establishment and stem yield (number of bundles) and TMS 96/1632 for root yield.
A (2 nodes)
B (4 nodes)
C (harvested tubers)
Fig. 1: Sample of 2, 4 and harvested tuber from a variety (TMS 98/0581).
CONCLUSION
Direct 2- node and 4-node planting in the humid rainforest is a good technology that can help to meet the
current demand for planting materials by cassava farmers in Nigeria. However, 4-node stake is
recommended for optimum stem and root yield production.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria for providing the fund
and enabling environment for this study. The fund for attending this conference was provided by Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation through the organizers of GCP21.
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