Agronomic performance of cassava cultivars and selections in Rio Pardo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

The cassava agricultural exploitation has an important contribution to small farmer because this culture is characterized by easy propagation, large adaptation to several climates and soils, low production’s price and it allowed a whole plant utilization (aerial matter and roots) and, at this moment, the industrial transformation is getting more interesting for starch uses and bioethanol production. This trial aimed to test 19 cultivars/selections, in Rio Pardo, Rio Grande do Sul, using randomized block experimental design, with three replicates. The characteristics evaluated were: plant height (cm), leaves maintenance percentage, stem number per plants, number and weight of roots per plant and root starch percentage. When we take consideration about fresh matter production (plant height, leaves maintenance percentage and stem number per plants) results showed that S 2-11-34, S 60-10 e S 5-77 selections had best performance; to roots production (number and weight roots per plant and starch percentage) “Mantiqueira”, “RS 13” e “RS 14” cultivars and S 60-10 selection were detached. In this production cycle the starch percentage had little variation among evaluated genotypes.