Implementation of a Tunnel System for Scaling-Out High-Quality Cassava Planting Material

TL;DR

This study shows that using tunnels can help grow high-quality cassava plants faster, which could improve farming and industry outcomes.

Contribution

The study evaluates the performance of four cassava varieties in tunnel systems for rapid propagation in Colombia.

Findings

All four cassava varieties produced high-quality cuttings suitable for propagation under tunnel conditions.

Cutting productivity increased significantly from 60 to 180 cuttings per square meter across five harvest cycles.

Substrate mixtures improved soil properties and reduced environmental impacts by preventing compaction.

Abstract

The production of high-quality cassava planting material is a key strategy for mitigating the spread of pests and diseases. To promote the adoption of such strategies by farmers, it is essential to strengthen local capacities through knowledge transfer and the incorporation of innovative technologies, such as tunnels for rapid propagation (TxRPs), which have been successfully implemented in various international contexts. This study appraised the performance of four industrial cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) varieties—Corpoica Tai, Corpoica Belloti, Corpoica Ropain, and Corpoica Sinuana—under tunnel conditions at two locations on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Planting material consisted of mini-cuttings (7–9 months old) with three buds. Five successive harvest cycles were assessed by measuring key growth parameters, including plant height, leaf number, SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) chlorophyll index, leaf area, and biomass (dry weight and nutrient content). Environmental conditions within the tunnels, such as temperature and humidity, were regulated to promote rapid sprouting and accelerated growth of the cuttings. However, sprouting, vigor, and overall growth performance varied by variety. All four cassava varieties produced high-quality cuttings (>20 mm in diameter and >6 leaves), suitable for further seedling propagation. Cutting vigor increased across cycles, with productivity rising from over 60 cuttings/m2 in the first cycle to more than 180 cuttings/m2 by the fifth. Substrate mixtures enhanced both physical and chemical soil properties, depending on the source (CRT or CBL). The addition of coco peat or sand effectively minimized environmental impacts by preventing substrate compaction. The findings demonstrate the potential of tunnel-based systems to accelerate the production of high-quality cassava planting material, supporting improved productivity and sustainability in cassava cultivation for both farmers and industry stakeholders.

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