Variation in biomass of cassava genotypes grown under different irrigation levels during the early growth phase

Abstract

AbstractUnderstanding the performance of cassava under different irrigation levels during the early growth phase could support better decision‐making to improve yield. This study aimed to determine the performance of cassava genotypes grown under three different water regimes during the early growth phase. A strip‐plot design with four replications was used for two experimental years (2019/2020 and 2020/2021). Three irrigation levels were applied from 30 to 180 days after planting (DAP) and were assigned as factor A (W1, W2, and W3 denote 100%, 60%, and 20% crop water requirement [ETcrop], respectively), 30 cassava genotypes were assigned as factor B. Crop data were obtained at 180 and 330 DAP. The irrigation at W1 gave the highest biomass at 180 DAP as compared to W2 and W3. Well irrigation for all plots after 180 DAP did not show a difference in storage root dry weight at 330 DAP among the irrigation treatments. The genotype CMR38‐125‐77 had the highest biomass at 180 DAP for all three irrigation levels. For biomass at 330 DAP, CMR36‐31‐381 tended to produce high biomass under different irrigation levels. The genotype CMR34‐40‐43 was also identified as an ideal genotype in terms of biomass for water shortage conditions during the early growth phase of cassava. These genotypes can serve as parental sources for breeders as they have the potential to grow under different water regimes.