Resposta à utilização de torta neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) na produtividade de mandioca mansa (Manihot Esculenta Crants).

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of neem cake application (Azadirachta indica A. Juss), an organic fertilizer, on cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) productivity. The experiment was conducted in the rural area of Conde, Paraíba (Brazil), using a randomized block design with five doses (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 kg/ha) and four replications. The product was applied manually at the base of the plants in liquid form after being diluted in water. Agronomic variables related to productivity were analyzed, such as plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), number of leaves (NL), number of branches (NB), root diameter (RD), and total root yield (TRY). The results of the analysis of variance showed significant responses to the neem doses, suggesting a bio-stimulant effect associated with compounds such as azadirachtin, which acts in hormonal regulation, promoting increased branching. The results showed that root diameter presented little significance, indicating that root growth may be associated with soil nutritional factors. Neem cake can be a useful tool to promote vegetative growth in cassava, especially regarding branch development. However, further studies are recommended to evaluate its effects on other productive characteristics and under different edaphoclimatic conditions.