A report on cassava growing practices and management with presentations on Crop irrigation water requirement

1. CASSAVA (manihot esculenta),
“The food of the Poor”
Oscar Peter D. Pascual, Student, AE
Dr. Helen F. Gavino
Subject professor

2. Cassava, a 21st century crop
The “food of the poor” has become a multipurpose
crop that responds to the priorities of developing
countries, to trends in the global economy, and to
the challenge of climate change.
FAO, Rome 2003

3. Volume of Production
Source: Crop stat

4. Local Production (As of 2015)
Castilla
Barangay Area (ha)
Production
(MT)
Prodn (Ave)
per Ha
No. of
farmers
Maypangi 2.79 32.92 11.80 23
Maracabac 2.60 34.00 13.08 6
Amomonting 6.17 81.30 13.19 30
San Vicente 9.00 128.55 14.28 13
Libtong 2.48 31.40 12.69 12
Bonga 1.49 14.63 9.82 12
Bagalayag 0.90 12.57 13.97 4
25.42 335.371 88.81957322 100
49.08 254.115 5.177567237 182
Source: LGU - MAO

5. What’s in Cassava
Principle Nutrient Value Percentage of RDA
Energy 160 Kcal 8%
Carbohydrates 38.06 g 29%
Protein 1.36 g 2.5%
Total Fat 0.28 g 1%
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Dietary Fiber 1.8 g 4%
Vitamins
Folates 27 µg 7%
Niacin 0.854 mg 5%
Pyridoxine 0.088 mg 7%
Riboflavin 0.048 mg 4%
Thiamin 0.087 mg 7%
Vitamin A 13 IU <1%
Vitamin C 20.6 mg 34%
Vitamin E 0.19 mg 1%
Vitamin K 1.9 µg 1.5%
Electrolytes
Sodium 14 mg 1%
Potassium 271 mg 6%
Minerals
Calcium 16 mg 1.6%
Iron 0.27 mg 3%
Magnesium 21 mg 5%
Manganese 0.383 mg 1.5%
Phosphorus 27 µg 4%
Cassava root (Manihot esculenta (L.) Crantz), raw,
Nutrition Value per 100 g,
(Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)

6. Cassava Uses
Landscaping, Medicinal, Culinary, etc.
• Ethnobotanic: In Samoa, cassava was
used to induce abortion. American
Indians use the brown juice, obtained
during processing, for burns.
• Food products: There are hydrocyanic
glucosides (HCN) in all parts of the plant;
these glucosides are removed by peeling
the roots and boiling in water.
• The young tender leaves are used as a
potherb, containing high levels of protein
and vitamins C and A. The leaves are
prepared in a similar manner as spinach,
while eliminating toxic compounds during
the cooking process.
• Cassava flour is used to make cookies,
quick breads, loaf breads, pancakes,
doughnuts, dumplings, muffins, and
bagels.
• Cassava extracted juice is fermented into a strong
liquor called kasiri. It also can be concentrated
and sweetened until it becomes dark viscous
syrup called kasripo (casareep). This syrup has
antiseptic properties and is used for flavoring.
• The peeled roots of the sweet variety are usually
eaten cooked or baked.
• Livestock: Cassava leaves and stem meal are used
for feeding dairy cattle. Both fresh and dried
cassava roots are consumed by ruminants in
different forms (chopped, sliced, or ground).
Cassava bushes three to four months old are
harvested as forage for cattle and other
ruminants.
• Ornamental: One clone with variegated leaves is
planted as an ornamental.
• Commercial: Cassava starch is used in the
production of paper, textiles, and as monosodium
glutamate (MSG), an important flavoring agent in
Asian cooking. In Africa, cassava is used as partial
substitution for wheat flour.

9. Topic Contents:
• Farming systems
• Varieties and planting material
• Water management
• Crop nutrition
• Pests and diseases
• Harvest, post-harvest and value addition

10. Farming Systems
• reduced or zero tillage,
• crop diversification.
soil surface cover and

11. Site Selection
• Cassava grows best in a warm humid climate with a well-
distributed rainfall of 1,000 to 1,500 mm per year.
• Cassava can be planted in practically all types of soil but performs
best in well-drained, light to medium-textured soil such as sandy
loam, silt loam and clay loam.
• Cassava does not perform well with elevation exceeding 1,000
meters above sea level or water logged areas.
• Flat and undulating lands with slopes ranging from 0-8% are
suitable
• Areas with greater than 8% but not more than 15% slope may be
considered provided erosion control measures are put in place.
• The presence of farm-to-market roads, availability of farm labor
and accessibility to feed mills/buying stations are important
considerations prior to establishment of cassava plantations
SMFI recommendations

12. B. Varieties and Planting Materials
• Obtain mature stalks from
healthy stand of
recommended
cassava varieties at least 8
months old.
• If planting is delayed, store
the planting materials in an
upright manner under a cool
and shady place.
Recommended varieties
include Golden Yellow, Lakan
1, KU-50 among others.

13. Planting
• Cut the cassava stems into stakes one (1)
day before planting.
• Three methods of planting cassava
• a. horizontal — during summer so
that the plant will be kept moist.
• b. vertical — during rainy days so
that it will not rot if constantly wet.
c. slanting — between the two
seasons mentioned.
• In planting, unless the stem is
horizontal, bury 3/4 of the stem in
the soil, and cover the 1/4 with 10
cm fine soil.
http://businessdiary.com.ph/3546/cassava-
production-guide/#ixzz4WtRNYZ2Q. Retrieved
1/24/17
• At least 5 nodes or approximately 20 cm in
length per cutting.
• Recommended distance of planting is 0.75 -
1 meter between rows and 0.70 meter
between hills.
• In areas with evenly-distributed rainfall, it is
acceptable to plant anytime of the year.
• Plant the cuttings on ridges in either vertical
or slanting position.
• Two thirds of the stalk length must be
buried or covered with soil.
• Replant missing hills 10 -14 days after
planting.

14. Water Management: Methodology
• A. Importance/Benefits
• B. Effects of water management on yield
• General Crop water requirement
• Local (farmers’) Production practices
• Local Meteorological data gathering (Castilla, Sorsogon
Conditions)
• Determination of crop coefficient (Kco)
• Computation of monthly Crop Evapotranspiration (Using
Penman’s) (Etc) or any other suitable procedure.
• Estimation of Specific Crop water requirement (monthly
basis) throughout the production period (Initial, mid,
and end of production period)
• Computation of Irrigation water requirement (based on
Crop water requirement and the total monthly rainfall ,
2016 data)
Note: More elaborate computations is needed to include irrigation efficiencies, daily averages, etc…. for a more reliable water management.

15.  In most parts of the world, cassava is almost
exclusively a rainfed crop. In areas with only one
rainy season per year, farmers usually plant as soon as
the rains start.
 Planting early in the rainy season will generally
produce the highest yields because the plants have
adequate soil moisture during the most critical part
of their growth cycle.
 However, research has shown that yields may vary
according to the variety used, the soil type, the
plant’s age at harvest, and the rainfall intensity and
distribution during any particular year.
Water Management:
Importance/Benefits

16. Water management
• In Southern India, the crop’s water requirement is
put at from 400 to 750 mm for a 300-day
production cycle. But higher yields have been
obtained with much higher levels of water supply.
• Research in Thailand found that maximum root
yields were correlated with rainfall totalling about
1 700 mm during the 4th to 11th month after
planting. Cassava also responds well to irrigation.
• In trials in Nigeria, root yields increased sixfold
when the quantity of water supplied by
supplementary drip irrigation matched that of the
season’s rainfall.
• However, cassava is also susceptible to excess
water – if the soil becomes water-logged,
sprouting and early growth is affected and yields
fall.
Total water use of 1491.75 and
1701.13 mm produced the highest
average total dry matter yield of
49.12 and 37.62 t/ha (2006 – 2007
and 2007-2008cropping seasons)
Obafemi Odutola OdubanjO (2011). Water Use,
Growth, and Yield of Drip Irrigated Cassava in a
Humid Tropical Environment
Water Management: Crop water requirement and Effects on Yield

17. C. Water Management
• Once established, cassava can
grow in areas that receive just
400 mm of average annual
rainfall. But much higher yields
can be obtained with higher
levels of water supply.
• Delaying planting can lead to
drastic yield reductions
• Although cassava can withstand
periods of drought, it is very
sensitive to soil water deficit
during the first three months
after planting. Water stress at
any time in that early period
reduces significantly the growth
of roots and shoots, and impairs
subsequent development of the
storage roots.

18. Evapotranspiration (ET) of Cassava (Castilla, Sorsogon)
No. of days: 300 days Computed through Penman Method )Data Used
2016)
Planting date: October
month
No of days No of days KCo ETc ETc
per month cumulative mm/ day mm/mo
October 31 31.0 0.300 3.21 99.40
November 30 62.0 0.300 2.41 72.41
December 31 95.0 0.300 2.04 63.16
January 31 126.0 0.722 5.16 159.88
February 28 154.0 0.803 6.36 178.00
March 31 185.0 0.803 5.85 181.24
April 30 215.0 0.803 6.92 207.56
May 31 246.0 0.706 6.09 188.89
June 30 276.0 0.300 2.47 76.51
July 31 307.0 0.300 2.24 67.27
0.000
0.100
0.200
0.300
0.400
0.500
0.600
0.700
0.800
0.900
KCO FOR CASSAVA
0
50
100
150
200
250
ETc mm/mo
Water Management: Determination of Crop Etc, Kco (from FAO), using local data

19. 0
100
200
300
400
500
600
October November December January February March April May June July
Depth,
mm
Axis Title
Rainfall vs Crop ET curve (2016, 1-yr data). Castilla, Sorsogon Conditions
ETc mm/mo RNFLL mm/mo
Water Management: Computation of Irrigation water requirement (Total
rainfall (Monthly) vs Crop ET

20. • Adjustment of the Cropping calendar
• Apply irrigation water (if feasible) during critical periods of growth)
• Use of a more localized Meteorological data (which covers longer period of
time)
• Adapt suitable planting methods
Water Management: Recommendations
(Based on Result)

21. • Planting methods need to be tailored
to soil moisture conditions under
rainfed production. When the soil is
not well-drained and too wet due to
heavy rains, it is better to plant stakes
on the top of ridges or mounds to
keep the roots above standing water.
• However, where cassava is planted
during dry periods, the rates of stake
sprouting and plant survival are
significantly higher when cassava
stakes are planted on the flat, owing to
the slightly higher soil moisture
content of the topsoil. Stakes should
be planted at a shallow depth, of 5 to
10 cm, in heavy and wet soils, but
slightly deeper in light-textured and
dry soils to avoid surface heat and lack
of moisture.

22. D. Crop nutrition
• Before planting, submit soil sample for soil analysis to determine the
amount and kind of fertilizer needed. If fertilization is necessary,
fertilizer application is performed 30 to 60 days after planting. For a
yield level of 25 tons of fresh roots per hectare, cassava will require
• 20 sacks of organic compost,
• 2 bags of urea and
• 2 bags of muriate of potash.

23. Crop Nutrition
• After a month, other short term crops may be planted in between the cassava
plants. But if the other plants will be as high as the cassava as they grow, they can
be planted at the same time.
• When applying fetilizers for a second time, hill up around the plants, as in corn
fertilizing. Cassava needs watering, especially in the first two months of its
growth, when the root crop is beginning to grow.
• Fertilizer
• As much as possible, the soil where the cassava is to be planted should be
analyzed at the Bureau of Soils. However, if this is not possible, the following may
be used:
• +100+120 NPK mix or about 222 kg urea 45-0-0
500 kg solophos (0-20-0)
200 kg muriate of potash (0-0-60)
• Apply half of the N.P.K. on planting and the remaining half about two months
afterwards.
• Always remove the weeds, but when the plants are two months old, don’t till any
more because the growing roots (fruits) could be hurt. About three months after
planting, gramoxone herbicide could be used to control weeds.
http://businessdiary.com.ph/3546/cassava-production-guide/#ixzz4WtRY1Bxe

24. E. Pest and Disease Control
• Protecting cassava with pesticide is
usually ineffective and hardly ever
economic.
• Planting material of varieties with
tolerance or resistance to major pests
and diseases, as well as
• ecosystem-based practices,
• mulching,
• maintaining soil organic matter, and
• planting intercrops to provide a habitat for
pest predators.
• Biopesticides, sticky traps and soapy
water can help control many insect
pests. Plant health strategies should
encourage natural biological agents –
the mass release of a tiny wasp
defeated serious outbreaks of cassava
mealybug in Africa and Asia.
• Weed control
• Cultivate the soil 14-21 days
after planting to reduce weed
growth and after 2 months
DAP depending upon crop
establishment and weed
population. Cassava requires
approximately
(3 months of weed-free
condition for optimum yield).

25. Harvesting/Postharvest practices (SMFI Procedures)
• A. Harvesting
• Cassava roots can be harvested within 10-12 months after planting. Harvest only
whatever that can be processed within 2 days. Harvest cassava preferably during
the dry season to minimize occurrence of molds/rotting of tubers.
• B. Pre-Drying
• Partially sun-dry newly harvested roots to easily remove adhering soil materials.
• C. Chipping
• A 5-7 horsepower motorized chipper is currently available to deliver 2-3 tons of
chips per hour. Chips include the outer brown root peel. Ideal chip thickness is 12
mm thick.
• D. Drying
• Spread chips on concrete pavement for 2-3 days of sun drying.
• E. Granulation
• The preferred SMFI format for cassava delivery is in granulated form. Cassava
chips are further processed to 8-12 mm diameter form (about the size of a corn
grain). Cassava granules command a higher price and is less bulky to transport.

26. End of Presentation
Acknowledgement: LGU Castilla –MAO
References:
SMFI pamphlet
SWCE by Schwab
FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56
Lecture Notes: Dr, I. Agulto
As indicated in the sections where it was used.

27. Other related information

28. General Characteristics
• General: Family (Euphorbiaceae), Cassava is one
of the leading food and feed plants of the
world. It ranks fourth among staple crops, with
a global production of about 160 million tons
per year. Most of this is grown in three regions:
West Africa and the adjoining Congo basin,
tropical South America and south and Southeast
Asia. Cassava is a tall semi-woody perennial
shrub or tree, up to 7 m high, dbh up to 20 cm,
single to few stems, sparingly branching;
branchlets light green to tinged reddish, nodes
reddish. The outer bark is smooth, light brown
to yellowish grey; inner bark cream-green;
exudate thin, watery; wood soft, creamy straw.
• Leaves: petiole light greenish to red; blade
basally attached or slightly (up to 2 mm)
peltate, dark green above, pale light greenish
grayish underneath, sometimes variegated;
lobes narrow, 2.9-12.5 times as long as wide;
central unlobed part usually short, lobes 15-21
times as long. Inflorescences lax, with 3-5
together in fascicles; pedicels light green to red.
• Staminate flowers: calyx divided to halfway or more,
green to white to lobes white to reddish with white
median band inside to red purple, glabrous except for
apex of calyx tube and inner side of segments finely
hairy; filaments white, anthers yellow; disc yellow to light
orange.
• Pistillate flowers: calyx green with red margin and midrib,
hairy along the margin and on the midrib inside; disc
pink; ovary with 6 longitudinal ridges, green (with pinkish
stripes) to orange; pistil and stigmas white.
• Fruit: subglobose, green (to light yellow, white, dark
brown), rather smooth, with 6 longitudinal wings.
• Seeds: Up to 12 mm long.
• Root: The tuberous edible root, grow in clusters of 4-8 at
the stem base. Roots are from 1-4 inches in diameter and
8-15 inches long, although roots up to 3 feet long have
been found. The pure white interior is firmer than
potatoes and contains high starch content. The roots are
covered with a thin reddish brown fibrous bark that is
removed by scraping and peeling. The bark is reported to
contain toxic hydrocyanic (prussic) acid, which must be
removed by washing, scraping and heating.
• Habitat: In general, the crop requires a warm humid
climate. Temperature is important, as all growth stops at
http://www.gardenguides.com/taxonomy/cassava-manihot-esculenta/

29. • Cassava benefits from supplemental irrigation during rainless periods. Research
in India found that during periods of drought, yields increased with increasing
amounts of surface irrigation water applied. Full irrigation, at 100 percent of crop
water requirements, doubled the root yield obtained without irrigation.
• Drip irrigation makes more efficient use of water by providing small, frequent
applications, which saves water while maintaining soil moisture at a level that is
highly favourable to crop growth. In trials in India, drip irrigation produced about
the same root yields as flood irrigation – around 60 tonnes per ha – using 50
percent less water. When the water applied through drip irrigation was equal to
that used in flood irrigation, yields continued to increase substantially, to 67.3
tonnes per hectare.
• Similar results were reported from experiments in south-western Nigeria. In plots
under supplemental drip irrigation, yields rose sharply with increasing levels of
water applied. Yield increases at low application rates were significant – irrigation
that boosted the water supply by 20 percent almost doubled yields