Physiological characteristics of three cassava cultivars
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab1982.v17.15667Keywords:
growth analysis, physiological indexes, logistic function, harvest index, planting density, leaf area indexAbstract
Root production, harvest index, and leaf area index of three cassava cultivars (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Branca de Santa Catarina, IAC-12-829, and IAC-7-127- Iracema were not significantly affected by the planting densities (10,000, 16,666 and 25,000 plants/ha). The harvest index approached asymptotically the value 0.67. Cultivars with the heaviest stem had the lightest root. Maximum leaf area index achieved was 4.0 for all varieties. Cultivars IAC-12-829 and Branca de Santa Catarina had the highest root yield, while Branca de Santa Catarina had the highest plant weight. Maximum crop growth rate were, respectively, 11,5 g . m-2. day-1 , for Branca de Santa Catarina; 10,2 g . m-2 . day-1 for IAC-12-829; and 8.8 g . m-2 - day-1 for IAC-7-127- Iracema. Maximum root growth rate followed the same sequence with 6.9, 6.3, and 6.2 g m-2 . day-1, respectively. Accumulation of dry matter in the roots began only after the plants had approximately 270 g . m-2.
