Estimation of Cassava Crop Loss as Influenced by Grasshoppers (Zonocerus variegatus L) Infestation under Protected and Unprotected Field Conditions

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at three sites (Serabu, Gbassia and Foya) in Sierra Leone during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 cropping seasons to assess the cassava crop loss as influenced by grasshopper incidence and severity damage in the upland of Sierra Leone. The experiment utilized three cassava genotypes (Cocoa, SLICASS 4 and SLICASS 6) and two crop pest management practices (protected and unprotected) laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Findings revealed significant (p < 0.05) treatment × location × year interactions for fresh storage root yield (FSRY) loss, storage root number (SRN) loss and root dry matter content (RDMC) loss. Variety cocoa had the highest percent fresh storage yield loss (20.0%), number of storage roots per plant loss (42.9%) and root dry matter content loss (17.4%), whereas SLICASS 4 had the lowest of 13.3%, 37.7% and 9.5%, respectively. These findings are useful for determination of cassava crop loss using genotypes from diverse genetic backgrounds and cultivation technologies for identification of genotypes with minimal crop loss potential, selection and production of elite cassava genotype with desired end user traits.