Evaluation of growth, yield and root quality of four (4) cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) varieties in the semi-deciduous zone of Ghana
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Date
JUNE, 2015
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Abstract
Evaluation of crops is crucial to select superior varieties for a targeted region. A field experiment was conducted at the CSIR-Crops Research Institute of Ghana (CRI) experimental field within the semi-deciduous zone of Ghana from April 2013- April 2014 to evaluate the growth, yield and root quality of four cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) varieties. The varieties (treatments) were; Ampong, Agbelifia, Doku (all improved varieties) and Debor (local) variety. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with four (4) replications. All agronomic/ field management practices were carried out when necessary. The growth parameters measured were plant height, number of branches, length/ height at branching and the stem diameter. Top weight and the total crop biomass were also taken at harvest. Results indicated that, plant height showed significant differences (P<0.05) among the varieties at 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 and 11 months after planting. Number of branches per plant also showed no significant difference (P>0.05). Length of branching showed significant differences among the varieties during 8 months after planting (P<0.05). Varietal differences were highly significant for the height at branching across all the sampling period (P<0.001). Yield components measured were; number of roots, average number of roots per plant, number of stands, root weight, root length, root diameter. Most of the yield components were not significantly different from each other. But, root length and diameter showed significant differences among the varieties (P< 0.05).
Quality of the root was also evaluated based on the cooking and starch content. Cooking quality showed highly significant differences among the varieties (P< 0.001).
The, response of the varieties to external factors within the agro-ecological environment was also measured and such parameters measured were; light interception, soil moisture, temperature
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(canopy, leaf and soil), relative humidity, diseases as well as other leaf response variables; stomatal conductance and the leaf chlorophyll content. Varieties were significantly different from each other (P< 0.05) for temperature (canopy, soil and leaf), soil moisture, humidity, diseases and the leaf chlorophyll content.
The over-all result obtained indicates that; in most of the growth parameters measured, the improved varieties showed greater responses in terms of number of roots, root yield, dry matter and harvest index than the local the variety. This conforms that the improved varieties are superior in performance and have been developed and selected for special purposes than the local. In terms of cooking and starch quality, the local variety, Debor was however, the best.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree
of
Master of Philosophy in Agronomy (Crop physiology).