Yield performance of cassava genotypes in the forest and coastal ecologies of Southern Ghana

Abstract

Root yield performances of 10 cassava genotypes were assessed across six environments to determine stable cassava (Manihot esculenta) cultivar(s) for root yield in southern Ghana. The assessments were carried out in the forest zone (Fumesua), coastal savanna zone (Ohawu) and coastal savanna zone (Pokuase) in the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 growing seasons. The experimental layout was a randomized complete block design with three replications. Additive main effects and multiplicative interactions analysis (AMMI) indicated that genotype by environment interactions were significant. Genotype 6 (CR52A-25) was the highest yielding genotype with a root yield of 60.33 kg ha^-1, while Genotype 9 (CR59-4) had the lowest root yield of 26.86 kg ha^-1. Root yield was significantly lower (P = 0.001) at the forest zone compared to the coastal savanna zones.