Effects Of Fertilizer Application On The Chemical Composition Of Cassava Tubers And Their Garri Product

Abstract

Cassava variety, TMS 30572 was planted and plots were treated with compound fertilizer N15 P15 K15 at the rates of 0, 300kg/ha 400kg/ha and 500kg/ha. The chemical composition of the cassava tubers and garri produced from them were analysed. The results obtained showed that the moisture content obtained in the raw cassava from the unfertilized plot was 63.93% while tubers from cassava plots treated with fertilizer ranged from 65.27 – 65.87% moisture content. Crude fibre in raw cassava from plot without fertilizer was 1.70% as against 1.40% obtained from cassava plot with fertilizer treatment. The food energy was higher in cassava samples harvested from the plot with fertilizer treatment (392.90 g/calorie) when that of cassava from unfertilized plot was 388.90 g/calories. The cyanide potential was more in raw cassava from unfertilized plot (48.94 mg/kg compared to cassava samples from fertilized plot, which contains 42.86 mg/kg to 45.56 mg/kg HCN. The value of HCN on the cassava samples decreases as fertilizer treatment on the plot increases. Phosphorus was more absorbed by the cassava plant as the value of this mineral increases from 65.09 mg/100g in cassava from unfertilized plot to 68.90 mg/100 g observed in cassava from the plot treated at 500 kg/ha fertilizer. Fertilizer treatment also has effects on the garri product produced from the cassava from fertilized plots. The fibre content and swelling index was higher in garri produced from cassava obtained from the unfertilized plots.

Journal of Applied Chemistry and Agricultural Research Vol. 7 2000-2001: pp. 112-119