PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF FERTILIZER TYPES ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF CASSAVA CULTIVARS

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1 PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF FERTILIZER TYPES ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF CASSAVA CULTIVARS Aderi, O. S. and Nyong, R. J. Department of Crop Science, University of Uyo, ABSTRACT Field experiment was conducted at the University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm, Use Offot, Uyo, in May 2016 to evaluate the effects of fertilizer types on the growth and yield of cassava cultivars. Three cassava cultivars (NR white root, TMS 01/1368 and TMS 07/0539 -yellow roots) and four fertilizer types (0, NPK 15:15:15), Albit and Boost Extra (foliar applied) arranged in a factorial combination and laid on a randomized complete block design, replicated three times was used. Results obtained varied significantly (p<0.05) among the fertilizer types on the growth parameters. NPK fertilizer had significantly higher root yield (30.30t/ha) followed by Albit and Boost Extra with t/ha and t/ha, respectively while the control had the lowest root yield (20.90 t/ha). TMS 01/1368 was the tallest cultivar ( cm) at 8 months after planting (MAP) while NR 8082 was the shortest (157.38cm). At 4 MAP, TMS 07/0539 had the highest number of leaves per plant (127.29) while NR 8082 and TMS 01/1368 had the highest number of leaves ( and respectively) at 6 and 8 MAP. TMS 07/0539 had the longest roots (33.32 cm) while TMS 01/1368 had the shortest (24.77 cm). TMS 07/0539 had the highest number of roots (6.88) per hill and NR 8082 had the lowest number of roots (5.96). NR 8082 had the highest significant root yield (31.60 t/ha), while TMS 07/0539 and TMS 01/1368 had and t/ha root yield, respectively. NR 8082 had the highest number of branches (24.67) while TMS 07/0539 had the lowest. TMS 07/0539 had the highest stem yield (554.49) compared to NR 8082 which had the lowest (443.84). It was noted that application of NPK fertilizer significantly increased the root yield of NR 8082 compared with other fertilizer types and cassava cultivars. There is however need for long term research on Albit and Boost Extra to establish their benefits in cassava production. Keywords: Fertilizer types, cassava cultivars, albit, growth and yield. INTRODUCTION Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a woody shrub which belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family (Gill, 1988). It is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in the tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous roots (Henry, 2006). In 2016, global production of cassava root was 277 million tonnes, with Nigeria being the world's largest producer of nearly 57 million tonnes or 20.6% of the world total (FAOSTAT, 2017). Other major producers were Thailand, Indonesia and Brazil. Cassava is the third most important source of food calories for humans in the tropics after rice and maize. Cassava provides a basic diet for over half a billion people (IITA, 1995)), supplying very high yields of energy per unit land area-about 13 times more than maize and guinea corn (Achinewhu and Owamanam, 2001). In Nigeria, cassava plays a key role in the nation's food security as majority of the populace eat cassava at least once a day (Sanni et al., 2007). The crop is one of the most dominant and main crop components in crop mixtures in south-eastern Nigeria (Ikeorgu and Iloka, 1994) and it is gradually gaining importance as an industrial crop (Muoneke and Mbah, 2007). About 90 percent of cassava produced in Nigeria is used as food (Awoyinka, 2009). Yet Nigeria, the world s largest producer of cassava (FAOSTAT, 2017) has not attained self-sufficiency in cassava production as 100 million tonnes of the commodity is required annually to contribute in guaranteeing food security for the nation where about 65 percent are food-insecure (Aba, 2010). Despite the increase in the production of cassava in recent years, the current production rate per hectare (8-10t/ha) is far lower than the potential (30-60 t/ha) (Aderi et al., 2010). Some of the causes of low productivity include: sector dominance (90 percent) by small holder, resource-poor farmers, high cost of production, low quality and deficiencies in the supply and delivery of farm inputs such as fertilizer and planting materials (Aderi et al., 2010). There is need to explore the potentials of various types of fertilizer in order to ascertain their cost effectiveness and contributions to cassava root yield. NPK fertilizer granules have been used over the years to improve the yield of cassava with little or no attention to the available and accessible alternatives. Liquid fertilizers have been used in the production of vegetables and it is found to increase productivity of those crops. However, they are rarely used in the production of root crops. This work sought to find out how effective albit liquid fertilizer and boost extra would be on cassava production vis-à-vis NPK fertilizer. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiment was conducted at the University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm, Use Offot in 2016 cropping season. Uyo is located within latitude 05 17' and 05 27' North and longitude 07 27' and 07 56' East of the Greenwich Meridian and altitude 68 m above sea level (Edem et al., 2008). It lies in the humid high rainfall area of over 2,500 mm per annum, with daily photoperiod of 4 hours. The daily minimum and maximum NJAFE VOL. 13 No. 4,

2 temperatures are generally high, ranging from 23 to 34 C throughout the year. The average relative humidity is about 76%, with the lowest and highest values in January/December and July, respectively (Ekpeh, 1994). Soil analysis: A composite soil sample was collected at two depths (0-15 cm) and (15-30cm) using a transect method before land preparation for evaluating the physico-chemical properties of the experimental plot. Experimental design, layout and treatments Two factors were used with factor A as 4 fertilizer types which were: Control, NPK (15:15:15), Albit and Boost Extra. Factor B was 3- cassava cultivars; NR 8082, TMS 01/1368, and TMS 07/0539. These factors were combined in a factorial arrangement to obtain 12 treatment combinations. Fertilizer (NPK (15:15:15)) was applied at 400 kg/ha using ring method, Boost extra was applied at 3 litres per hectare while Albit was 60 mls/ha by foliar application. Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) is the active ingredient in Albit. PHB is derived from the bacteria (Bacillus megatherium) which occurs naturally on plant roots to stimulate growth, protects against disease and environmental stress and increase the content of PHB by 77% of its dry biomass. Boost Extra contains 20% N, 20% P, 20% K wt/vol plus EDTA chelated elements. NR 8082 and TMS 07/0539 varieties were obtained from National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike, while TMS 01/1368 was obtained from Akwa Ibom Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP), Akwa Ibom State. The fertilizers were obtained from Edem s and Usoro s Agrochemical shops located in Uyo. Planting was done on ridges using one stem cutting of 20 cm length spaced 1.0 m apart for a planting density of 10,000 per hectare. The cassava stems were inserted at about 45 at the crest of the ridges. Data Collection and Analysis The Growth Parameters Determined: a) Plant height (cm) measured from the base to the stem apex with the aid of a measuring tape and the mean determined, b) Number of leaves by visually counting the total number of functional leaves in the plant and the mean determined, c) No of branches was by visually counting the number of branches on the tagged plants and the mean determined; and d) Leaf area (cm 2 ): was estimated using Akoroda s (1993) formula thus: LA= LW LWN Where LA= Leaf area N= No of leaflets in a leaf L= Length of central leaflet W= Maximum width of central leaflet. Yield parameters determined a) No of Roots: done by counting the number of roots on the tagged plants in each plot calculating the mean, b) Root length (cm): done by measuring the root with a measuring tape and calculating the mean, c) Root circumference (cm): carried out by measuring the circumference of the roots in the plant and the average taken, d) Stem yield: done by counting the number of stems and estimating commercial bundles per hectare, a commercial bundle contains 50 cassava stems of 100 cm (1 m) each. e) Stump Weight: After harvesting the roots, the stump was separated and the weight taken with a weighing scale. Cassava stump is the fibrous head tissue that is cut off from the root and discarded or fed to ruminants during peeling, and f) Dry Matter Content (%): The freshly harvested roots were sampled for each treatment, peeled, chopped into pieces and 100 g weight taken. It was oven-dried at a temperature of 80 0 C till constant weight was attained before it was weighed again and the mean determined. The mean was then divided by the mean of the fresh weight and multiplied by 100% to get the percentage dry matter content. All growth and yield parameters collected were subjected to analysis of variance and treatment means that indicated significance at 5% level of probability were compared using Fisher s Least Significant Difference (LSD). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The soil test was slightly acidic with ph value of 6.50 and 5.80 at 0-15cm and 15-30cm depth respectively (Table 1). The organic matter was low while the available P was moderate at both soil depths. The exchangeable bases, Ca, Mg, Na and K, were low. The particle size analysis indicated high proportion of sand 82.40% and 79.20% at 0-15cm and 15-30cm depth respectively, with clay portion of 12.00% and 14.00%, respectively. There were significant differences among fertilizer types and cassava cultivars (p<0.05) on plant height at 2 and 4 months after planting (Table 2). Albit produced the tallest plant at 2 months after planting (MAP) while NPK (15: 15: 15) fertilizer produced the tallest plants at 4 MAP. Plant height was not significantly different between fertilizer types NJAFE VOL. 13 No. 4,

3 at 6 and 8 MAP. The tallest plants were obtained from TMS 01/1368 at 2, 4 and 8 MAP followed by NR 8082 at 2 MAP and TMS 07/0539 at 8 MAP. The interaction effects between fertilizer types and cassava cultivars were not significant at all the sampling times. table1. physical and chemical properties of the soil Soil Depth (cm) Soil Properties ph Electrical Conductivity (EC) (ds/m) Total N (%) Organic matter (%) Available P (mg/kg) Exchangeable Bases: Ca (Cmol/kg) Mg (Cmol/kg) 2, Na (Cmol/kg) K (Cmol/kg) Effective Cation Exchange Capacity (ECEC) (Cmol/kg) Exchangeable Acidity (Cmol/kg) Base Saturation (%) Particles Analysis (%) Sand Silt Clay Textural class Sandy Loam Sandy Loam Table 2: Cassava height (cm) as influenced by fertilizer types and cassava cultivars at different months after planting Table 3: Number of leaves per plant as influenced by fertilizer types and cassava cultivars at different months after planting Months after planting Fertilizer Types NPK Albit Boost Extra LSD(0.05) NS* NS NR TMS 01/ TMS 07/ LSD(0.05) NS 3.01 Interaction (FxC) NS NS NS NS Months after planting Fertilizer types NPK Albit Boost extra LSD(0.05) NS* Cassava cultivars NR TMS 01/ TMS 07/ LSD(0.05) NS Interaction (F x C) NS NS NS NS Similar number of cassava leaves was produced by all the types of fertilizer at 3 MAP. However, the number of functional leaves borne on the cassava was significantly higher with the application of boost extra at 4 MAP compared with other fertilizer types (Table 3), followed by albit application, then NPK application. The control treatment produced the lowest number of leaves. At 6 MAP, NPK fertilizer produced the highest significant number of leaves compared with other fertilizer treatments, followed by albit while the control produced the lowest number of leaves whereas at 8 MAP, leaf retention was significantly higher with NPK application followed by boost extra and albit. Boost extra and albit retained similar number of leaves at 8 MAP. The control consistently produced the lowest number of leaves in all the sampling periods. Similar number of leaves was produced by all the cultivars at 2 MAP. But at 4 MAP, TMS 07/0539 produced significantly more leaves than TMS 01/1368 and NR NR 8082 produced the lowest number of leaves during the period. At 6 MAP, NR NJAFE VOL. 13 No. 4,

4 8082 produced the highest significant number of leaves compared to other cultivars. It was followed by TMS 01/1368 while TMS 07/0539 produced the lowest. At 8 MAP, TMS 01/1368 retained the highest number of leaves compared with other cultivars; followed by NR 8082 compared with 07/0539. Rapid decline in leaf retention by all cultivars was observed at 8 MAP although TMS 01/1368 retained the highest number of leaves during the period. Maximum leaf area was observed at 4 WAP with the highest significant value obtained from NPK fertilizer, followed by Boost Extra and Albit (Table 4). Table 4: Effects of fertilizer types and cultivars on cassava leaf area (cm 2 ) at different months after planting months after planting Fertilizer types NPK Albit Boost extra LSD(0.05) Cassava cultivars NR TMS 01/ TMS 07/ LSD(0.05) Interaction (F x C) NS* NS NS NS The lowest leaf area was obtained from zero fertilizer application. Leaf area declined from 6 through 8 MAP. However, at 8 MAP, greater leaf area was obtained from Albit which was significantly higher than other fertilizer types while the lowest leaf area was produced by zero fertilization. NR 8082 produced the highest significant leaf area at 2 and 4 MAP compared with other cultivars. It was followed by TMS 01/1368 at the same periods. Leaf area declined in all the cultivars between 6 and 8 MAP with TMS 07/0539 retaining the highest leaf area at 8 MAP, followed by NR 8082 with TMS 01/1368 producing the lowest leaf area. There was no significant interaction effect between fertilizer types and the cassava cultivars. Boost Extra produced the highest number of branches. Table 5: Number of Branches, stems and stump weight (kg) per plant as influenced by Fertilizer types and Fertilizer Types Number of branches / plant Number of stems/plant Stump weight/ plant (kg) Number of Stem bundles/ha NPK Albit Boost Extra LSD(0.05) 2.14 NS* NR TMS 01/ TMS 07/ LSD(0.05) NS NS NS 6.38 Interaction (F x C) NS NS NS NS It was followed by NPK compared with Albit and zero fertilizer treatment, while the lowest stem branches were produced by the zero fertilizer application. All the cassava cultivars produced similar number of branches with no significant interaction effect between the fertilizer types and cultivars. There were no significant differences between the fertilizer types and the cassava cultivars on the number of stems produced per plant as well as on their interaction effects. Stump weights differed significantly between fertilizer types with the highest obtained from Albit and the lowest from Boost Extra. Similar stump weight was produced by NPK and Boost Extra on the one hand, and Albit and Zero fertilizers on the other hand. All the cultivars produced similar stump weight. NPK fertilizer produced the highest number of stem bundles per hectare compared with other fertilizer types, followed by Albit, then Boost Extra, while the zero fertilization produced the lowest number of stem bundles. TMS 07/0539 produced the highest significant number of stem bundles, followed by TMS 01/1368. NR 8082 produced the lowest number of stem bundles per hectare. Their interaction effect was not significant. Similar number of NJAFE VOL. 13 No. 4,

5 roots per plant was produced by NPK fertilizer, Albit and Boost Extra and they were on the stem which was significantly higher than all the other fertilizer types (Table 5) significantly higher than the control (Table 6). Table 6: Yield and Yield components of cassava as influenced by fertilizer types and cassava cultivars Fertilizer Types Number of roots/ plant Root (cm) length Root Circumference (cm) Dry matter (%) Root (t/ha) NPK Albit Boost Extra LSD(0.05) 1.98 NS* NS NS 2.11 NR TMS 01/ TMS 07/ LSD(0.05) NS 2.01 NS NS 2.73 Interaction ( FxC) NS NS NS NS NS yield The root length, root circumference and dry matter content did not differ significantly between the fertilizer types. However, root yield from NPK fertilizer was significantly higher than all the other fertilizer types while Albit and Boost Extra gave similar root yield that was higher than the control. The control produced the lowest root yield. The root yield from NR 8082 was significantly the highest compared with TMS 01/1368 and TMS 07/0537. However, TMS 01/1368 and TMS 07/0539 produced similar root yield. The interaction effect between fertilizer types and cassava cultivars on root yield was not significant. DISCUSSION The result of the study showed that effect of fertilizer types on cassava varied significantly (P<0.05). The significant effect of fertilizer application over control may be attributed to the low soil fertility of the experimental site as was evidence in the result of the soil analysis. Tisdale and Nelson (1975) and Ogbonna (2008) noted that crop response to fertilizer application was also affected by nutrient reserves in the soil. The significant differences recorded among the fertilizer treatment over control could be that the nutrients taken up by the plant were well utilized in cell multiplication, amino acid synthesis and energy formations hence increase in photosynthesis. The products of photosynthesis were then translocated to the sinks (growing buds and storage roots). The vegetative and yield parameters such as number of leaves per plant, leaf area, number of branches per plant, plant height and root yield responded significantly to fertilizer types. Inorganic fertilizer (NPK-15:15:15) performed best in root yield. This could be that the nutrients from the solid NPK (granules) were adequate, and in forms where uptake was enhanced over an extended period of time (gradual release of nutrients) in comparison with foliar applied boost extra and albit which could suffer losses from rain wash and volatilization of nitrogen compounds in them. There was significant variation on cassava growth at different sampling periods. TMS 01/1368 was the tallest cultivar and it also produced the highest number of leaves per plant. The differences in some growth and yield components of both cassava varieties could be attributed to the inherent varietal characteristics. Akpan et al., (2013) reported varietal differences in some cassava varieties within the same location. Akata (2015) reported wider differences on cassava height, number of leaves per plant and leaf index of some cassava varieties in the rainforest zone of Nigeria due to varietal differences in the adaptation and utilization of the edaphic and environmental resources. According to Ugwu (1990), varietal differences also have effect on yield. He further stated that a considerable variation existed both within and between the different varieties for most of the characters. Ekpe and Obiefuna, (1998) observed that the differences in root yield and theamong cassava cultivars could be attributed to high bulking capacity of the different cultivars. The lower number of leaves and leaf area recorded at 8 months after planting could be attributed to moisture stress during the months of December and January as observed by IITA (1990), that leaf size may reduce considerably under adverse environmental conditions such as the appearance of dry season. REFERENCES Aba, A Nigeria s quest for food security. People s Daily. Achinewhu S. C. and Owamanam, C. I Garrification of five improved cassava cultivars in Nigeria and physico-chemical and sensory properties of garri yield. African Journal of Root Tuber Crops. 4(2): NJAFE VOL. 13 No. 4,

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