Raising a cassava plantation successfully

Hello Hivers 💯

Raising a cassava plantation successfully requires careful planning, proper land preparation, good planting materials, and effective management.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Choose well-drained, loamy, or sandy-loam soil with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

Avoid waterlogged areas and heavy clay soils.

Ensure good sunlight exposure for optimal growth.

Clear the land by removing weeds, bushes, and debris.

Plow and harrow the soil to loosen it for better root penetration.

Create ridges or mounds in areas with heavy rainfall to improve drainage.

Use healthy, mature cassava stem cuttings (8–12 months old) from disease-free plants.

Cut stems into 20–30 cm lengths, ensuring each has 4–6 nodes.

Plant the cuttings horizontally, vertically, or at an angle (depending on soil conditions).

Spacing: 1m × 1m (for optimal growth) or 1m × 0.8m (for higher yields in small areas).

Best planting time: Start of the rainy season.

Weed regularly (first 3–4 months are crucial).

Use mulch to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture.

Control common pests like cassava mealybugs and diseases like cassava mosaic virus using resistant varieties and proper field sanitation.

Apply organic manure or compost before planting.

Use NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer at 8 weeks after planting (if soil is poor).

Rotate crops with legumes (e.g., cowpea) to improve soil fertility.

Cassava is ready for harvest 6–12 months after planting, depending on the variety.

Harvest by loosening the soil and pulling the plant out carefully.

Ben