No abstract
Cassava is Africa's second most important food source in terms of calories consumed per capita. However, farmers use little or no fertilizer on cassava and scant information is available regarding the cassava yield response to mineral and organic fertilizer inputs in Zambia. This study was undertaken to determine the response of cassava to the integrated use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources in two contrasting agroecological zones of Zambia; Mansa located in Zone III and Kabangwe located in Zone II. The treatments consisted of a factorial combination of four NPK rates (unfertilized control, 50N-11P-41.5K, 100N-22P-83K, and 150N-33P-124.5K kg/ha) with four rates of chicken manure (0, 1.4, 2.8, and 4.2 t/ha). The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Cassava height, stem girth, canopy diameter, leaf area index, and chlorophyll index were monitored over time and roots were harvested at 12 months after planting (MAP). Growth parameters and yield varied significantly (p < 0.01) both with NPK, manure application, and their interaction effects at 12 MAP. The combined application of 4.2 t/ha of chicken manure and 100N-22P-83 K kg/ha of mineral fertilizer resulted in the highest yields of 35.2 t/ha at Kabangwe. But, the highest average yield of 34.4 t/ha was recorded with the application of 2.8 t/ha manure and 100N-22P-83 K kg/ha mineral fertilizer at Mansa. This increased treatment yield by 24 and 29% over the sole NPK fertilizer application at Mansa and Kabangwe sites, respectively. Harvest index (HI) was higher when 2.8 t/ha chicken manure was applied in combination with 50N-11P-41.5K kg/ha at Kabangwe. But, the highest HI at Mansa site was achieved with the combination of 2.8 t/ha manure and 100N-22P-83 K kg/ha. This combination also resulted in the highest agronomic efficiency of N, P and K at both sites. It is concluded that cassava productivity and nutrient use efficiency can be improved through the integrated use of NPK and manure in Zambia.
Information on fertilizer response in cassava in Africa is scarce. We conducted a series of onfarm and on-station trials in two consecutive years to quantify yield responses of cassava to mineral fertilizer in Kenya and Uganda and to evaluate factors governing the responses. Average unfertilized yields ranged from 4.2 to 25.7 t ha -1 between sites and years. Mineral fertilizer use increased yields significantly, but response to fertilizer was highly variable (-0.2 to 15.3 t ha -1 ). Average yield response per kg applied nutrient was 37, 168 and 45 and 106, 482 and 128 kg fresh yield per kg of applied N, P and K, respectively in 2004 and 2005. Fertilizer response was governed by soil fertility, rainfall and weed management, but was not influenced by variety, pest and disease pressure and harvest age. Relative N and K yields were positively correlated to SOC and exchangeable K, while response to fertilizer decreased on more fertile soils. Still, fertilizer response varied widely on low fertility soils (e.g. on soils with\10 g kg -1 SOC, responses ranged from -8.6 to 24.4 t ha -1 ), indicating strong interactions between factors governing fertilizer response. Response to fertilizer was reduced if total rainfall \1,500 mm or rainfall from 0 to 3 months after planting \400 mm. Fertilizer application promoted plant growth and resulted in a better soil coverage and reduced weed competition. Yields in fertilized fields were independent of weed management, unless growing conditions were unfavourable.
Diagnostic surveys were conducted in 2002 and 2003 in order to provide a comprehensive and detailed assessment of the status of cassava mosaic disease (CMD) in the Republic of Congo (ROC) and to determine if the disease was spreading. In 2002, 105 farmers' fields were assessed in the four major cassava-producing regions of the country. In 2003, 163 fields were sampled in nine regions and Brazzaville Commune. Incidence of cassava mosaic disease was generally high, averaging 80 and 86 % for 2002 and 2003, respectively; while damage was moderate to severe. In 2002, disease incidence was moderate in Pool (73%) but high in Brazzaville (81%), Cuvette Centrale (82%) and in Plateaux Region (84%). Pool region still had the lowest incidence (78%) in 2003, while Sangha (95%) had the highest incidence. The greatest disease severity was recorded in Niari region in the south and Cuvette Ouest region in the north in 2003. East African cassava mosaic virus Uganda variant (EACMV-UG) occurred virtually throughout the country, commonly in dual infections with African cassava mosaic virus. The high incidence of disease in plants considered to be the results of cutting infection (74% in 2002 and 82% in 2003), relatively low incidence of disease in plants considered to be infected by whiteflies and wide distribution of EACMV-UG points to the fact that the CMD pandemic is a chronic in the country and the areas sampled are currently in a stable post-epidemic phase. This situation is comparable to that in areas of East Africa affected by a pandemic during the 1990s, including Uganda, parts of western Kenya and north-western Tanzania. These findings clearly verify the assertion that the CMD pendemic has expanded across Central Africa and provide a basis for designing interventions and control strategies for the entire region. dans la région du Pool demeurait encore plus faible (78%) en 2003 pendant que Sangha avait l'incidence plus élevée (95%). En 2003 la plus grande gravité de la maladie était enregistrée dans la région de Niari au Sud et dans la région Ouest de la cuvette au Nord. La variante du virus de la mosaïque du manioc de l'Afrique de l'Est en Ouganda (VVMMAEO) s'était virtuellement manifestée à travers le pays; les infections s'étaient couplées avec le virus de la mosaïque du manioc africain. La grande incidence de la maladie des plantes considérée être les résultats de la contagion des boutures était de 74% en 2002. Relativement, la basse incidence dans les plantes considérées être contaminées par les mouches blanches et la grande part du VVMMAEO était de 82% en 2003. Ceci a abouti à la conclusion selon laquelle la pandémie de la MMM avait contaminé le pays quelques années auparavant et que les régions ayant fait l'objet de l'échantillon sont actuellement dans une phase post-endémique. Cette situation est comparable à celle des régions de l'Afrique de l'Est qui étaient contaminées par une pandémie les années 1990 y compris l'Ouganda, les parties Ouest du Kenya et le Nord-Ouest de la Tanzanie.
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