Integrated Weed Management in Cassava Crops: an Environmentally Correct Challenge

Abstract

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a perennial, shrubby plant that belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family; it is highly tolerant to drought and widely adapted to a variety of soil and climate conditions. It is native to the American continent, probably the Brazilian Amazon, where its wild varieties are found to this day. The most important part of the plant is its tuberous roots, rich in starch, used for human and animal consumption or as raw material for several industries. The potential use of the above-ground part, extremely rich in protein, is almost unlimited, which makes cassava a source of energy and protein for monogastric and ruminants. 2019 global production was 303.57 million tons, spanning approximately 27.52 million hectares, with an average yield of 11.03 tha-1, quite low when compared with the average yield of the State of São Paulo—30.30 tha-1. Conversely, between 1970 and 2019, global cassava production grew substantially from 98.60 to 303.57 million tons, highlighting the social and economic importance of this crop, which provides sustainable development to tropical countries. Among the factors that can negatively affect cassava yield in fields, the presence of weeds (competition) that reflects on the agricultural economy on a permanent basis should be highlighted. Weeds cause significant damage by competing with the plant for the same water, light and nutrients, in addition to other forms of negative interference (allelopathies). Nevertheless, many advances in integrated weed management in cassava have already been published in Brazil. This, along with the need to disseminate other research results generated by IAC, Embrapa Cassava and Fruits and UNIOESTE motivated the authors to produce this new book.