Biofertilizer Impacts: Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) Cultivation Crop Yield and Regenerative Agriculture (Published)
Citation: Ayodele A. Otaiku (2022) Biofertilizer Impacts | Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) Cultivation Crop Yield and Regenerative Agriculture, Global Journal of Agricultural Research , Vol.10, No.1, pp.1-90
Abstract: Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) demand by 700 million people and cultivated in 105 countries between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn within 2300m elevations globally for food security and the cultivation impact on biodiversity require biofertilizer to mitigate climate challenges, crop sustainable development and regenerative agriculture. Nigeria is the world largest producer with a global average yield of 11.80 t/ha, cassava yields can reach 80 t/ha, compared to the current world average yield of just 12.8 t/ha. Biofertilizer solves the traceability problem of chemical farm inputs, suitability and nutrient use efficiency as an integral function of the rhizosphere microbiome via plant microbe interactions for improved soil health quality and crop degradation management. Cassava cultivation with biofertilizer will reduce hydrogen cyanide (HCN) levels in the crop as an integral bioavailability of soil organic matter and nutrient use efficiency. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in the biofertilizer will ameliorate plant abiotic stress and bio-control diseases management. Easily accessed agrobacterium inoculant in biofertilizer has potential for transgenic cassava cultivar development for improved yield and nutrient biofortification. This book chapter encapsulate the case studies trilogy research article papers on biofertilizer impacts on soil microbiome during cassava cultivation for crop yield, soil health, regenerative agriculture, value chain development, food and nutrition security.
Keywords: Biocontrol, Biofertilizer, Inoculant, NPK Fertilizer, Soil health and quality, Soil microbiome, cassava
Evaluation of Cultivars and NKP Fertilizer Rates on Growth and Yield of Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott on Plains of Nsukka, South Eastern Nigeria (Review Completed - Accepted)
An on –farm experiment was conducted in 2008 and repeated in 2009 cropping season at the Linkage Farm of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to evaluate the growth and yield responses of five cultivars of taro (Colocasia esculenta) to different levels of NPK 15:15:15: fertilizer on plains of Nsukka with the objectives of identifying best performing cultivars and optimum NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer rate. The experiment was laid out in a 5×6 factorial in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in which factor A is taro cultivars consisting of Nkpong, Odogolo, Nworoko, Ugwuta and Nachi while factor B is NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer rates with six levels which is included 0, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300kg/ha. Fisher’s least significant difference was applied to detect significant difference between two means at 5% probability level. The results showed that the mean rainfall for 2009 planting season was higher than that of 2008. The soil was texturally clayey and moderately acidic with a pH of 5.0 cultivars differed significantly on total yield with Nkpong and Nachi producing 33.25 (t/ha) and 31.08 (t/ha) in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
Application of NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer at 200kg/ha significantly produced a total yield of 42.76 (t/ha) and 25.58 (t/ha) in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
Keywords: Cultivars, Growth, NPK Fertilizer, Taro, Yield