Varietal trial of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)for Conservation Agriculture Production System

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is considered one of the most important economic crops in the Philippines. However,cassava is no longer a staple food for Filipinos as it is used to be, but it is an important cash crop for upland small and large farmers. It is widely cultivated in many areas in the Philippines thus it is important crop to be integrated into the conservation agriculture production system (CAPS). Nearly all the harvested roots are now processed into dry chips and pellets for export as animal feed, as well as into starch, both for domestic and international use. Major production problems are declining soil fertility,soil erosion and the strong fluctuation of the cassava root prices. Identification of suitable high yielding cassava varieties is equally important in our on CAPS. In the context of CAPS,total above ground biomass is one of the important parameters in selecting appropriate variety. Thus we are evaluating cassava varieties that have high both in root and above ground biomass that can be used as mulch for the subsequent crops.