Modeling the Response of Cassava to Fertilizers: A Site-Specific Nutrient Management Approach for Greater Tuberous Root Yield

Abstract

Conventional fertilizer-management strategy results in decreased fertilizer-use efficiency and unbalanced nitrogen (N)–phosphorus (P)–potassium (K) applications. The quantitative evaluation of fertility of tropical soils (QUEFTS) model was used for determining region-specific balanced NPK uptake requirements and recommendations for a target yield of cassava. Minimum and maximum internal efficiencies of N, P, and K were estimated as 35 and 80 for N, 250 and 750 for P, and 32 and 102 for K (kg tuberous root per kg nutrient removed). Linear increases in tuberous root yield with N, P, and K uptakes of 17.6, 2.2, and 15.6 kg N, P, and K per 1000 kg tuberous root yield were observed. Relationships between soil supply and soil chemical properties and between fertilizer nutrient recovery efficiencies with their rates of application were developed for major cassava-production regions. Good agreement between measured and predicted yields was observed while calibrating the model, which shows that the model can be used for making site-specific NPK recommendations for cassava in major cassava production regions of India.

Keywords:

• Cassava
• internal efficiency
• indigenous nutrient supply
• QUEFTS
• recovery efficiency

Acknowledgments

We are greatly indebted to the director, Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), India, for providing financial support in conducting the study. Thanks are due to Dr. Achim Dobermann, University of Lincoln–Nebraska, USA, for providing us with the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet version of QUEFTS model as well as for providing valuable guideance in calibrating the model for cassava.