Wasiu A. Lamidi * and Kabiru A. Shittu **
*Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria.
**Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Ejigbo Campus, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author Email Address: wasiu.agunbiade@uniosun.edu.ng
DOI: https://zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.13128152
ABSTRACT
Different tillage practices of cassava (Manihot esculentum) plants, roots’ yeild and quality in the rain forest of Osun State, Nigeria were studied. Plots of land were planted with bitter variety 98/0581 fresh cassava stems. Three treatments: zero tillage (0), minimum tillage (1) and maximum tillage (2) were used; each treatment replicated thrice; 0A, 0B, 0C; 1A, 1B, 1C and 2A, 2B, 2C respectively. Selected agronomic parameters (i.e. Heights of cassava plants, Leaf Area Index (LAI), weights of harvested roots per hectare, and quality of roots) were determined. All collected data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance – ANOVA. Results showed statistical differences among (1) mean values of the heights of cassava plants, (2) mean areas of cassava leaves. There were stronger correlations depicting stronger relationships between methods of tillage and LAI and average growth rate of cassava; R2 = 0.999, 0.998, 0.996 for zero, minimum and maximum tillage respectively for LAI and R2 = 0.989, 0.991 and 0.992 for zero, minimum and maximum tillage respectively for average growth rate.