Growth analysis in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Growth and productivity of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) was studied using fourteen cultivars by growth analysis. The high yielding cultivars recorded significantly higher values of specific leaf weight (SLW), net assimilation rate (NAR) and crop growth rate (CGR) when compared to low yielding cultivars. The highest dry biomass and fresh tuber yields obtained in this work were 26.3 and 42.2 t ha⁻¹ respectively. The profusely-branching types accumulated more dry matter in shoots (52.6 to 64.2%) than the non-branching types (33.5 to 41.8%) resulting in low harvest index. The pooled analysis suggested that the tuber yield was significantly and positively correlated with SLW (r=0.86**), petiole, length (r=0.84**), NAR (r=0.78**) and CGR (r=0.73**). The results of the path analysis indicated that the total biomass had maximum direct and indirect influence on other yield.