Pruning times on cassava

Abstract

This work was developed aiming the evaluation of pruning effect on yield and other agronomical characteristic of cassava. The experiment was carried out at the experimental area at Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, in Vitória da Conquista of the state of Bahia, using a randomized block design, with 13 experiments [1 treatment without pruning, and 12 pruning times, performed from June 2008 (213 days after planting) up to June 2009 (543 days after planting), with a 30-day-interval among the pruning). The following characteristics were evaluated: tuberous roots yield, dry mass percentage in tuberous roots, starch percentage in tuberous root, flour yield; flour production, steam. The results demonstrated that pruning adoption in cassava plants during physiologic rest (May to June) increase the production of roots, which tend to present more dry mass and flour yield, at the end of the cycle, the reduction, and reduction of the aerial part, during the pruning. If the pruning was performed during the higher vegetative growth, a higher productivity of the aerial part and lower productivity of the roots is obtained.