Tropical Agriculture is Our Business

Cassava: Production Principles and Practices


Despite of its role as a food security commodity, cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is one crop which has been perennially neglected. Cassava is considered as a famine crop and ranks well behind rice, maize, and wheat in both cultivated area and production. The crop possesses outstanding ability to grow in unfavorable environments and render economic yields. It is this ability to yield without much husbandry that often renders the crop unworthy of improvement. Recently, however, significant advances have been achieved in plant breeding and crop management. Yet, the crop is still widely regarded as a crop for marginal lands. The fact that it is the last crop in shifting cultivation systems clearly depicts its role in subsistence agriculture. In conventional agriculture, its role has not changed that much as it still grows in areas virtually unsuitable for other crops. Efforts to grow cassava on a commercial basis have been generally successful but continuous cultivation has often led to soil depletion and land degradation. Overall, recent research efforts have significantly improved cassava productivity. Yet, this improved technology has not always been readily available for application. This book, entitled "Cassava: Production Principles and Practices", reviews major research advances in soil management and agronomy and brings under one cover the most current understanding of the cassava crop. The book is organized in eight chapters. Chapter 1 provides an overall view of cassava production worldwide with description of local and regional patterns. Chapters 2 and 3 describe soils, environments, and major constrains. Chapter 4 outlines the morphology and physiology of the crop with particular attention to traits showing significant response to changes in environment and management, Chapter 5 describes the effects of water inadequacies on plant growth and root yield and quality. Chapter 6 reviews soil management practices dealing with soil acidity, nutrient imbalances, and fertilizer use efficiency. Chapter 7 reviews propagation techniques, planting systems, and agronomic practices for improved plant establishment, steady leaf area development, and maximum root bulking. Chapter 8 reviews cassava-based multiple cropping systems and associated management practices. Overall, the book is an essential source reference for farmers, agronomists, scientists, extension workers, students, and anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of the cassava crop.

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