The document describes a best planting practices study conducted in Nigeria to test different cassava cultivation methods. It examines plowing levels, soil shaping, planting density, and fertilizer application. The study aims to identify practices that increase yields, reduce costs, and improve food security for cassava farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. It details the four factors being tested in the study and the experimental plot design. The challenges encountered in the field trials and next steps are also summarized.

1. African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI)
First annual review and planning workshop,
5-7 Dec 2016, Ibadan Nigeria
Best Planting Practices
OYSCGA

2. Cassava
Best planting practices
use case
Stefan Hauser, Root & Tuber Crop Systems Agronomist
African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI)
First annual review and planning workshop,
5-7 Dec 2016, Ibadan Nigeria

3. Best Planting Practices (BPP)
Requesting development partners:
Oyo State Cassava Grower Association (OYSCGA) –
Oyo State only,
CAVA II with activities in Ogun

4. Reasons for best planting Practices:
1. Reduce cost of land preparation and crop
establishment
2. Reduce risk of erosion and other soil physical
degradation
3. Establish optimal planting density
4. Assess fertilizer response x tillage
5. Increase yields through correct land
preparation (tillage), planting density and
fertilizer use.
6. Generate more cash income and food security
7. Reduce risk of crop failure

5. Approach:
Four factors being tested-
(1) Plowing – 3 levels: zero, single and double
(2) Shaping the soil – 2 levels: flat soil versus ridging
(3) Planting density – 2 levels: 10000 versus 12500 ha-1
(4) Fertilizer – 2 levels: Nil versus 75:20:90 kg ha-1 N, P, K

6. Field implementation
A full set of treatments (1 replicate) would be 24 plots.
Plow tillage was at the charge (choice) of the farmer.
Ridging was done by FUNAAB or IITA or manually.
Within plowing and shaping (flat or ridged) treatments
2 density and 2 fertilizer treatments were placed.

7. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
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Flat Ridged Flat Ridged Flat Ridged
Zero PlowingSingle plowingDouble plowing
0 3217 3415 49
T49T32T17T15T0 T34
4241252487
T8T7 T25T24 T41 T42
Fertilizer Fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer Fertilizer FertilizerFertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer Fertilizer Fertilizer Fertilizer
NIL
NIL NIL NIL
NIL NIL
NIL
NIL NIL NIL
NIL
NIL

8. Few farmers had all three plow treatments in their fields
thus either 2 or 1 were used to ridge and leave flat.
Preference was given to sites where 2 plow treatments
were available.
Ridging was done across the slope if field size
permitted.
Space between treatments was kept as small as
possible to reduce border effects and weed infestation.

9. Time of
application
Type of Fertilizer Applied amounts (kg ha-1)
WAP fertilizer
rate
(kg ha-1)
N P K
4 NPK 15:15:15 150 22.5 9.81 18.675
8 NPK 15:15:15 150 22.5 9.81 18.675
12 urea 65.22 30
16 MOP 52.62 26.31
20 MOP 52.62 26.31
total 75 19.62 89.97
Fertilizer types, quantities and application times

10. Observations, measurements, samplings
At 2 and 4 WAP sprouting / establishment and
replacement of missing stakes,
At 8 WAP growth evaluation
At 12 - 16 WAP growth evaluation,
At 17-18 WAP sampling of 2 youngest fully developed
eaves, weed assessment
At 24 WAP growth evaluation and ceptometer readings,
weed assessment
At 48-50 WAP final harvest

11. Challenges
In most trial sites cows are roaming and in some places
trials were partially destroyed by grazing cows.
Appreciation of the variety (TME 419) is such high that
farmers have started to cut stems to plant in other sites.
Weed infestation and late or poor weeding will cause yield
differences not related to the treatments.
Certain observations will produce invalid data (ceptometer)
Disregard of simple erosion control measures at the time of
the basic tillage – plowing up and down the slope.

12. Thank you
TME 419,
Single plow,
Ridged,
Fertilizer applied,
10000 plants/ ha

13. OYSCGA

15. Where does Africa stand
in cassava production?
YIELD
In cassava we may
well look at a yield
gap equivalent to
90% of the yield
potential.
80 Mg ha-1 fresh
roots are often
quoted as a potential
but on single plant
basis 120 Mg ha-1 are
possible.

16. Production and yield statistics,
general situation
0
30
60
90
Potential Yield Attainable Yield good
management
poor
management
Freshrootyield(Mg/ha)
India
Thailand,
Brazil