Response of cassava (Manihot esculenta) minisetts to varying levels of drip fertigation

A field experiment was conducted during 2014–15, 2015–16 and 2016–17 at Sreekariyam, Thiruvanantha-puram, Kerala, to investigate the response of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) minisetts to different levels of drip fertigation. Short-duration variety of cassava ‘Sree Vijaya’ was used for the study. The experiment was laid out in 3² factorial design with 9 treatments (3 levels each of nitrogen and potassium 75, 100 and 125 kg/ha applied through drip fertigation) in 3 replications. Full phosphorus was applied as basal soil application. A control with soil application of standard recommended dose of fertilizers (100, 50 and 100 kg N, P and K per ha) was also kept for comparison. Minisetts of cassava raised in nursery were transplanted during December every year and harvested during May. Drip irrigation was given uniformly @ 100% cumulative pan evaporation. Pooled data analysis of the 3 years indicated that a combination of N @ 75 kg/ha and K @ 125 kg/ha through drip fertigation was the best in terms of tuber yield (48.68 t/ha), net income ( 331, 900/ha), benefit: cost ratio (3.14) and energy-use efficiency (19.06) for cultivation of cassava minisett under drip fertigation.