FIELD ESTABLISHMENT IN CASSAVA PRODUCTION
• Land preparation
• Field layout
• Planting operation
• Stem cutting propagation.
land preparation
Cassava production requires good soil preparations. Land preparation practices varies considerably, depending mainly on climate, soil type, vegetation, topography and degree of mechanization. The land is cleared and the residue was burnt at the end of the dry season. When the first rains have softened the ground, the land is ploughed, harrowed and made into ridges one (1) meter apart.
FIELD LAYOUT
Field layout involves marking out the field for planting. After mowing and ploughing, the plots of land are harrowed into ridges at 1m inter-spacing. The field is marked out with aid of rope, tape, and pegs. It is marked at 5-1m blocking. 5m for planting and the remaining 1m as alley way. Planting operation .Cassava cuttings of 25cm for yield trial and 8cm for rapid multiplication are used. The 25cm cuttings are planted slanting at an angle, while that of rapid multiplication is complete burying. The stems are planted on ridge at a planting distance of 1x1m in between plant and ridge.
Stem cutting propagation
Cassava stem or cutting of an average length of 25m are used for propagation. Except in rapid multiplication where cutting of 5-8cm with at least two (2) nodes are used for propagation.
Harvesting of seed progeny
It is the harvesting of cassava root(Manihot species) cultivated by seed. It is best to harvest cassava at a time when the tubers are old enough to have accumulated sufficient amount of starch but not so old as to have become excessively woody or fibrous. ;late maturing of cassava cultivars are ready for harvesting at 12months after planting, while some early maturing cultivars are ready at 7months. In hand-harvesting, a…….. Is used to cut off the stem of a few cent-metre above the ground. The soil around the tuber is then loosened using the machete, and around the stub of the stem is pulled to lift out the tuber. After pulling 5g of the tuberous root was weighed in air using salter scale and electronic scale was used in water to determine the maturity, quantity and quality of the yield.
Pre-harvest seedling evaluation
It is the evaluation of the spaces, physiological and morphology of cassava plant. This is done by taking the hearest plant distance, the nature of the branch, presence of flower or not and the petiole colour. It scores as follow:
Petiole colour: 3 = light green
5 = dark green
7 = greenish purple and
7 = purple
Branch: AVB = average branch
HB = high branch and
NB = No branch
Distance: 0.25 , 1.5 etc
Flower: p= present and
– = absent
Finding
When cuttings are planted in most soil under favourable conditions, they produce sprouts and adventitious roots within a week. If propagated by seed, plant establishment is considerably slower, the plant itself is smaller and weaker than that produced from a stem cutting and seedlings genetically segregate into different types.
Conclusion
Siwes in iita has made me to appreciate research work more than class work and has also made me to see the study of crop production and landscape management as a pride.
Recommendation
I recommend to my colleagues in crop & soil management that during their siwes program, they should never bargain on financial gain for experience because what you gain is your heritage forever which will afford you better opportunity in future.
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