Changes in Cassava Yields with Trimmed Leaves for Eri-culture in Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia

抄録

Cassava (Manihot esculenta), a host plant of eri silkworm (Samia Cynthia ricini), is one of the main crops, followed by rice in Cambodia. As it was not long ago that eri-culture was introduced in Cambodia, the research related to eri-culture and eri silkworms in Cambodia has not been developed. Especially, trimming methods of cassava leaves have not been studied yet. Accordingly, attention has been paid to evaluate the suitable amounts of leaves trimmed for eri-culture without affecting cassava tuber yields. So, this study dealt with the potential percentage of cassava leaves trimmed for eri-culture in Cambodia. In the experimental field at Royal University of Agriculture located in Phnom Penh, cassava, variety called KM 94, was cultivated from November 2011 to July 2012 for 8 months. After 4 months passed from planting, the leaves were trimmed at 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%, respectively. At 8 months passed from planting, the yields were compared amongst plots of different trimmed percentage, and the suitable amounts of leaves trimmed for eri-culture without affecting cassava tuber yields were discussed. The experimental results showed that yields of 100% trimmed were significantly smaller than that of 0% to 80% trimmed. Additionally, there was no significant difference in yields amongst plots trimmed 0% to 80%. It was concluded that cassava leaves can be trimmed up to 80% without affecting cassava tuber yields.