Evaluating cassava best management practices towards low fertility soil in West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Marginal land with low fertility is a major problem in cassava cultivation. The purpose of this study was to determine the best combination of fertilization to increase the growth and yield of cassava on an Inceptisols soil. Urea (46% N), SP-36 (36% P2O5), KCl (60% K2O), NPK Phonska (15% N:15% P2O5:15% K2O), Poly4 Sirius (14% K2O:17% CaO:6% MgO: 19% S), and chicken manure were used as a nutrient source into six treatment combinations. The results showed that fertilizer application significantly affected the plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, diameter of tubers, the total number of tubers, number and weight of marketable tubers, and the total weight of tubers per plant. The highest fresh and dry weight of storage roots was achieved in the best management practice involving application of 138 kg N + 36 kg P2O5 + 60 kg K2O + 37 kg Ca + 13 kg Mg + 41 kg S per hectare compared to other treatments where the weight of marketable tubers was also higher. The right combination of fertilizer rates was needed to achieve high yield targets of cassava and depends on the site-specific conditions of soil fertility and nutrient status.