CASSAVA
Cassava can be a long term plant, from six months to two years depending upon the use it is
intended for. Although this grows anywhere that the soil is loose and not water logging, and
rich, farmers do not care much for it. Many are still unaware that besides being second to rice
among crops, cassava is valuable in industry. From cassava, alcohol, glucose, solvent,
explosives, animal feed, fertilizers, energy and others are derived.
There are many kinds of cassava that are well adapted to our climate, but only four of these
are common because of their low hydrocyanic acid content. There are Golden Yellow,
Katabang, Macan and Brasil. Two others used in the manufacture of starch are the Hawaiian
5 and Java Brown. The Mandica Sao Pedro Preto is not edible because of its high poison
content.
PLANTING
1. Cassava may be planted at any season, but it is better if the soil is always wet in the first
4-5 weeks after planting.
2. The stem to be planted must be from a matured plant, about a year old, 25 cm long with 5-7
nodes from bottom stem. The thickness of the stem must not be smaller than half of the fattest
part of the stem from where it is cut. If the stem is smaller than this, it will not have much
nutrient content with which to start the new plant, so the roots and growths will be small.
3. Cut the stem crosswise with a sharp bolo. Avoid bruises and breaks and plant within the
week when the stem are cut. The stem to be planted can last up to 10 days if these are
wrapped in a wet cloth or sack and placed in any airy and shady place. If it is not possible to
plant immediately, these will still grow within a month if it is sprayed with any of the following
before storage: Orthocide or Daconil, Manzate, Dithane, Demosan, Brassicol, Visigran or
Agallol. It should be stored in a shady, humid or cool place with temperature between 20-30 C.
Land Preparation
Like any land preparation for planting, plow the land to remove weeds and grasses. Let it
stand for another week and plow for the third time.
1. Make hills about 75 cm apart from one another, depending on the kind to planted.
2. With the help of a pointed stick, make a hole about 18 cm deep in each hill where the stem
are to be planted, one in each hole.
3. Plant early in the morning or late afternoons during summer or anytime when the sun is
cool.
Three methods of planting cassava
a. Horizontal – during summer so that the plant will kept moist.
b. Vertical – during rainy days so that it will not rot if constantly wet.
c. Slanting – between the two season mentioned.
In planting, unless the stem is horizontal, bury 3/4 of the stem in the soil
and cover the 1/4 with 10 cm fine soil.
1. After a month, other short term crops may be planted in between the cassava plants. But if
the other plants will be as high as the cassava as they grow, they can be planted at the same
time.
2. When applying fertilizer for a second time, hill up around the plants, as in corn fertilizing.
3. Cassava needs watering, especially in the first two months of its growth, when the root crop is begging to grow
Source:tekno tulong