What Fertilizer, Weed Control And Herbicide Is Good For Cassava Farm?

Use NPK fertilizer. But note that all NPK fertilizer are good! But not all NPK fertilizer are good for cassava.

As for the herbicides, you can use summit or any paraquat (paraforce, paraq, paraval, paracot etc). But with the paraquat, you should be avoiding torcing the cassava leaves. But even if it does, don't worry, the leaves may die, but it wouldn't affect the cassava tuber

People use glyphosate to weed cassava. But they are very careful against the chemical spilling over to touch the cassava. Because if it touches the cassava leaves, that's the end of the cassava. Unless you are lucky to notice the spill. Then you can plug off the particular affected leave. The idea is for it not to touch the leaves. So it has no effect on the stems right.

But sometimes, it is a very good land is all you need.

I can't say much about the fertilizer, but as for herbicides Lagon is the best. There are lot of glyphosate in the market, but our own glyphosate is called Round-up. It's very expensive and very effective too. Same company with Lagon, Decis, Tihan, Belt Expert, Confidor and Velum to name but few. They are all product of Bayer.

I won't recommend Npk 27:13:13 or 20-10-10. I think I did disagree with some people. Cassava is a root/tuber Crop which is where all Farmers think of and not the leaves. NPK 27:13:13 or 20:10:10 is a high Nitrogen ratio fertilizer, which is mainly for it's foliages (leaves). You can't apply more of Nitrogen on a tuber Crop when the aim isn't for leaves but tubers.

The NPK fertilizer for cassava is actually NPK 12-12-17. IITA supplies her customers. Potassium nutrients is highly needed for root development in tuber Crop. However, 12:12:17 may not be a bad one at all.

For me, no UREA is what is - purely nitrogen. No NPK. I attended a seminar some years ago and we were told about the chemical effect of fertilizer as the reason why we should be using organic fertilizer. Since then I use only organic fertilizer and the results had been wonderful

What are the sources of organic fertiliser?

I use pigs dump, fowls shits and compost manure. Inorganic fertilizers are not good for tuber crops. Such fertilized tubers rot within 5 days. Therefore, won’t store well. Also fufu becomes dark grey, garri burns brown during frying, Eba will not gel. Use organic manure from dry poultry droppings.

The NPK fertilizer for cassava is actually 12-12-17. That is what IITA supplies to farmers and you know IITA and cassava are like 5 & 6. 

Now when it comes to herbicides, it is a process. There are various types of chemicals: pre-emergence and post-emergence. Their works are not the same.

For pre-emergence: go for primextra gold, and for post emergence, go for any glyphosate based chemicals. 

I also learnt that Lagon is good too as pre-emergence as it locks the soil for about 3 months, which is enough for an well planned farm to have covered.

However, it should be noted that beyond fertilizer and chemical applications, there are many other things to put into consideration in order to get good yield. Organic fertilizer. Weeding depends on size of cassava. At the tender stage, use atrazin but when it is tall enough, you can use any herbicide.

FAQs 

1. What fertilizer is good for cassava farms?

- A balanced NPK fertilizer like 15-15-15 or 20-10-10 is good for cassava farms to help with growth.

2. When should I apply fertilizer to cassava plants?

- Apply fertilizer at planting and again after about 6-8 weeks to help cassava plants grow well.

3. How do I apply fertilizer to cassava plants?

- Spread fertilizer near the base of cassava plants and mix it into the soil gently.

4. What nutrients do cassava plants need most?

- Cassava plants need nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to grow well and make big roots.

5. What weed control methods are good for cassava farms?

- Hand weeding and mulching are good to control weeds in cassava farms without using chemicals.

6. Can herbicides help control weeds in cassava farms?

- Yes, herbicides like glyphosate can be used carefully to control weeds, but follow instructions to avoid hurting cassava plants.

7. When should I apply herbicides in a cassava farm?

- Apply herbicides when weeds are growing but cassava plants are strong enough to handle it.

8. Are there organic weed control methods for cassava farms?

- Yes, using mulch, cover crops, and hand weeding are organic ways to control weeds in cassava farms.

9. How often should I check for weeds in my cassava farm?

- Check for weeds regularly and remove them when they are small to keep them from taking over.

10. Where can I buy fertilizer and herbicides for my cassava farm?

- Buy fertilizer and herbicides from farm supply stores or companies that sell agricultural products.