Cassava , Manihot esculenta , is a perennial shrub in the folk Euphorbiaceae grown primarily for its warehousing ascendant which are rust as a vegetable . The cassava plant is a woody plant with erect stem and spirally arranged simple lobed leaves with petioles ( leaf stems ) up to 30 curium in distance . The plant produces petal - less flush on a raceme . The edible roots of the plant are usually cylindrical and tapering and are white , brown or reddish in colour . Cassava plants can accomplish 4 molar concentration in height and is usually harvested 9 - 12 months after planting . Cassava may also be referred to as Brazilian indian shot , manioc , yuca or tapioca and the origin of the plant life are unsung .
The cassava works is grown for its roots which are used as food . Cassava has the ability to grow on poor soils where other crops do not grow well . manioc is also a suitable crop to turn when there is drouth . Because cassava roots can be lay in in the basis for up to 24 month , and some varieties for up to 36 months , harvest may be check until market , processing , or other status are favourable .
Plant Information
How To Plant, Care, Harvest And Store
Planting Cassava
extension from memory roots is inconceivable , as the roots have no buds . Cassava is propagated through cutting . The most desirable cuttings are 20 - 30 cm long and 20 - 25 millimeter in diameter ( with 5 - 8 knob ) , preferably from the midway brown - skinned share of the stem of plants 8 - 14 months old . Cuttings from older , more mature parts of the stem turn give better yield than cutting from younger part , and long cuttings give higher yields than short cutting . Select slip from healthy plants . cutting slightly infest with pests can be treated by immersion in heated up water ( amalgamate equal mass of boiling and cold water ) for 5 - 10 minutes just before planting .
The separation between trim back stems and planting should be as shortsighted as possible ( not more than a couple of days ) . Cassava cuttings may be planted vertically , at an angle , or horizontally . The drier the soil the bigger the part of the base placed in the land . Under very dry condition , plant cuttings at an slant and cover the great part with soil . Vertical planting is good in sandy grunge , as the roots develop deeper in the soil . Horizontal planting leave to a tumid act of thin stems , which may cause lodging . Moreover , the ascendant explicate more closely to the surface and are more likely to be exposed and round by rodents and birds . Do not constitute cuttings upside down , as this drastically reduces yield .
The spacing between flora will depend on whether manioca is grow as a sole crop or with other crops ( intercropping ) . If manioc is being produce alone , plants should be planted 1 meter asunder from each other . This means that 10.000 cuttings are command for 1 ha ( 4000 cuttings per acre ) . If cassava is being grown as an intercrop , the branch habit of both the cassava starch and the other crop should be considered , making certain there is enough space for the plants .
The good land for planting manioc is monotonic or softly squelch land . Steep slopes are easily eroded . Valleys and depression surface area that unremarkably get waterlogged are not very suitable and cassava roots do not break well . Before planting get to know the history of the land ( previous crops , type of weeds , disease and pests ) .
grime preparedness varies from much zero under shifting cultivation to ploughing , harrowing and potential ridging in more intensive cropping systems . Planting on mound and ridges is recommend , especially for area with rain of more than 1200 millimeter per year or in area where ground get waterlogged ( e.g. valleys and depression ) . Ridging may not give high production , but harvesting is easier and dirt erosion may be cut , especially by contoured ridge . In sandy stain , minimum cultivated land and planting manioc on the flat are appropriate . Plant at the beginning of the rainy season .
Also Read : How to grow and like for Giant Pumpkin
How To Care For Cassava (Yuca) Plant
Weeding is necessary every 3 - 4 weeks until 2 - 3 month after plant . Afterwards the canopy may cover the grime and weeding is less necessary . Although manioca grow rather well on piteous grease , it command with child amount of nutrients to give rise eminent proceeds . To maintain high production , it is necessary to sustain the natality of the soil . Phosphorous is important for root development . Symptoms of phosphorous insufficiency are stunted growth and violet or purple discolouration of the leaves . In the absence of in force compost , rock inorganic phosphate can be applied if needed . Potassium is also require by manioc and can be applied in the form of compost or woodwind ash . Potassium deficiency symptoms are : stunted ontogenesis , sour leaf colour which gradually becomes paler , dry browned touch on peak and margins of the leaves and “ bite ” edges of leaves .
However , it is important to leave good growing conditions for the plant , as tidy works are able to withstand some damage by cuss and disease . In cosmopolitan , manioc responds well to farmyard manure . Manure can be apply at state readiness to increase soil nutrients , to improve the soil construction , and to improve the ability of the soil to throw water . Mulching cassava , especially after planting , is helpful when produce casava in dry areas or on slopes .
Harvesting
harvest home is done either piece - repast or by uprooting whole plants . unseasoned flora are usually harvested bit - repast , while old plants are more ordinarily eradicate to preclude the store roots becoming very sinewy . As cassava starch roots do not keep fresh more than 2 - 3 days after harvesting , not all plant are harvested at once , but rather harvest home as the roots are have . When casava is develop for urban grocery store they are harvested in bulk . Cassava is commonly harvested 9 - 12 months after plant . It is sometimes glean earlier if postulate for food . storehouse roots become too woody if harvest home is delayed . Early maturing varieties are ready for harvesting at 6 calendar month while late maturing varieties are quick 12 months after planting .
Pests And Diseases
Pests
Diseases
Other terror
Also Read : kind of Pumpkin
Varieties
There are two varieties of casava — odorous and bitter . Both Cassava salmagundi contain prussic battery-acid ( hydrocyanic acid ) , which can stimulate nitril toxic condition ; therefore , it is not advisable to eat large portions of raw cassava . The sweet miscellany of casava has fewer of these compound , and does not require as much processing . acid cassava is very similar in cultivation and ecumenical coming into court to sweet cassava , but produces much higher quantity of nitril compound .
Storage
manioca does not put in well when fresh and therefore has to be peel off , chopped and dried in the Lord’s Day . It can then be stored in the shape of chips or flour under ironic conditions .
Use
The cassava plant is used mainly for food for thought for human consumption . It can also be used as animal food . In many homes manioca provide a source of food and supplies vigor . It can be laugh at , boil or made into flour for porridge , Ugali , Fufu or garri Cassava leaves are also consume as a green vegetable , which provides protein and vitamin A and B.
How To Get Rid of Poison from Cassava
The presence of nitril in cassava represent a clear threat to health , unless these compounds are removed before the cassava is consume . There are several methods of remove the nitrile from cassava . unproblematic drying reduces the level of cyanide , though this may not be adequate to make it secure for pulmonary tuberculosis . souse the roots in water system first , to leach out cyanide , produces a secure starch . So does fermenting the solution , either whole , shredded or in pieces , before drying . roast the Tuber , or boil them in multiple changes of water , will also lose weight the cyanide content to manageable levels .
