Comparative Performance of Traditional Farming Practices and Improved Practice on the Development of Cassava in the Field in Pissa (Central African Republic)

Cassava is generally grown by small farmers, with low technological input in terms of nutrient intake. The aim of this work was to study the impact of traditional farming practice and improved practices in the development of Cassava in the field. The study was carried on the three accessions locally called 6 mois, Gabon and Togo. Data collection for the agronomical and morphological characterization of the accessions was made over a period of twelve months from 34 descriptors of Cassava. The analysis of variance revealed that the difference between the means of the circumferences was highly significant as well according to the accessions (p = 7.28e-06) and to the Cassava practice system (p = 2e-16). The seedlings resulting from the improved practice have the largest diameter (2.88 ± 2.48). Whereas the TFP (traditional farming practice) or PP plants have the mean diameter between (2.03 ± 1.84). The heights of the plants considered according to cultural techniques show a significant difference (p = 0.0075). Depending on the accessions, the difference is highly significant (P = 0.00074). Improved practice has resulted in taller plants in height compared to traditional farming practice. There is a highly significant difference (p = 0.000743) in relation to the number of leaves according to different accessions and not significant (p = 0.103) according to cultural practices. The “6 mois” accession has a large number of leaves according to the practices. Each axis (composite variable) is a combination of morphological descriptors weighted by their level of explanation of the overall variability of the system. The main contributions (PC> 13%) to the first axes of correspondence come from the accession Togo. This explains why there is a great agro-morphological variation much more marked by the "Togo" accession. There was a highly significant difference (P = 3.55e-09) between the number of tubers per plant and the number of tubers marketable per plant (p = 5.8e-11) according to cultural practices. The "Togo" accession; "6 mois" and "Gabon" have respective yields 8.9 kg / plant, 7.4 kg / plant and 4.5 kg / plant according to improved practice or GIPD while they have respectively 3.8 kg / plant, 4.1 kg / plant and 3.3 kg / plant according to traditional farming practice. Root length and width are also economically important, since plants with roots too long and too thick may indicate plants with more than one vegetation cycle.