Productivity Evaluation of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Cultivated with Different Fertilizers

Abstract

Cassava is one of the most important socio-economic crops in the world. It is usually cultivated in soils with low fertility and little mechanization, which makes it difficult to increase the crop's productivity and, consequently, economic gains. The aim of this study was to evaluate different types of fertilization (Poultry litter, organomineral fertilizer and rooting) in cassava cultivation in the northwest region of the state of Paraná - Brazil. After 10 months of planting, the variables evaluated were: number of roots, root diameter, root length, shoot height, starch yield and shoot fresh weight. The results were submitted to mean test, principal component analysis and Pearson's R correlation analysis. The results showed that poultry litter presented the best result in practically all the evaluated variables, followed by rooting, which promoted the highest number of roots; in addition, with the exception of the number of roots, all other variables were highly correlated.