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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2009
Experiments were carried out over two growing seasons to find out the effects of fertilizer application and age at harvest on the yield, available carbohydrates and hydrocyanic acid content of Manihot palmata.Fertilizers were applied at the following rates: 0–0–0; 45–45–0; 45–45–45; 45–45–67, and 45–45–90 kg/ha of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium respectively. Harvests were at 9 and 15 months after planting. Application of nitrogen and phosphorus resulted in significant yield increases. Fertilizer application had no significant effect on the hydrocyanic acid content of the tubers. Harvesting at 15 months gave more than double the tuber yields and a higher percentage of hydrocyanic acid than harvesting at 9 months. It is, therefore, desirable to use efficient methods of processing the tubers harvested at 15 months to obtain safe products for industrial and nutritional uses.